The shortage of oxygen cylinders in the country was visible when the Covid-19 crisis in Bangladesh was just reaching its peak in early April. People were rushing to panic-buy oxygen cylinders, as patients infected with coronavirus usually suffered a rapid lung failure and required emergency breathing aid.
This sudden increase in the demand for oxygen cylinders pushed prices up on an average between 100 and 150 percent as people, anticipating possible transmission of the virus, started stocking at their homes the most essential emergency medication to fight Covid-19.
Before the coronavirus crisis, the price of the most commonly used 1.36 cubic meter volume oxygen cylinder set, including gas flow meter, regulator, breathing mask and a trolley, was around Tk 10,000 and Tk 16,000. However, since the March, prices have peaked at around Tk 30,000.
Unscrupulous businessmen quickly capitalised on
the high demand for oxygen cylinders in absence of
any kind of monitoring in the market
This acute shortage of oxygen has proven fatal for many critical patients infected with coronavirus, particularly in remote areas of the country. The High Court in mid-June asked the authorities concerned to quickly come up with a reasonable price for oxygen cylinders and re-filling price.
In order to tackle the ongoing crisis, the Directorate of Health Services (DGHS) is in the process of negotiations with all stakeholders engaged in the oxygen cylinder business. They are expected to set a price of oxygen cylinders in order to alleviate the suffering of those who need it the most.
Unscrupulous businessmen quickly capitalised on the high demand for oxygen cylinders in absence of any kind of monitoring in the market. A syndicate of brokers raised the prices of the cylinders without any proper reason. Meanwhile, the government has already fixed the price of cylinder sets for supply to all its hospitals across the country. The Directorate of Drug Administration (DGDA) informed that they have fixed the price of oxygen gas at Tk 54 per cubic meter.
The authorities must now identify the people who were behind the price hike of oxygen cylinders. These criminals must be held accountable for taking undue advantage of the crisis caused by Covid-19.
