THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Providing solace to those who are running from pillar to post to buy the costly pulse oximeter, the inhouse drug bank in Thiruvananthapuram SAT has come up with low cost oximeters. A severe shortage of pulse oximeters are being witnessed in the state, where most of the patients are undergoing treatment from home. Pulse oximeters are essential to measure the oxygen level in the body. Even the oximeters sold in the open market at exorbitant rates.

About a stock of 4,000 oximeters are available in the inhouse drug bank. By today evening 4.00 pm an additional stock of 3,000 oximeters will reach the drug bank. 10,000 more oximeters will reach the drug bank by tomorrow evening and day after tomorrow. Now oximeters are sold at the rate of Rs 750. With the increase in stocks, the price of oximeters would further fall by Rs 250 and it will reach Rs 500.

In the open market, pulse oximeters are sold at the rate of Rs 3,000, Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,500. Chief pharmacist inhouse drug bank, Biju has told Kerala kaumudi online that enough stock of oximeters are available in the drug bank and nobody needs to run in the open market to buy it at a high price.

Doctors have advised the general public to measure oxygen levels of covid patients as the respiratory system is the first victim of the coronavirus pandemic. With this the demand for oximeters surged and its price which was just Rs 600-Rs 1,000 plummeted to Rs 3,000.

Even though the people are ready to buy the oximeters at a high price, severe shortage of the instrument is faced in the open market. Pulse oximeters are brought to the state from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. The hike in the number of covid patients, further enhanced its demand. Despite its shortage, now thousands of people are flocking to the drug bank to buy the device.