Bengal’s health administrators are worried about a tendency among a section of people to stock oxygen cylinders and concentrators at home fearing that someone in the family might need them after contracting Covid.

Home healthcare providers, who either sell or rent out oxygen concentrators and cylinders, said their stock was exhausted because of the panic reaction.

Such is the demand for oxygen devices that even stores that sell mobile phones are now keeping oxygen concentrators and they are selling fast.

“We have asked the drug controller to ensure there is no hoarding of oxygen cylinders. More than 4,000 oxygen cylinders have been seized in raids conducted with the police,” said Ajay Chakraborty, Bengal's director of health services.

“We are also advising people not to stock oxygen cylinders unnecessarily because those who actually need them will not get one on time.”

According to home healthcare providers and oxygen device suppliers, an oxygen concentrator would cost between Rs 60,000 and Rs 80,000. Now, the devices are even being sold at Rs 1.10 lakh apiece, they said.

Some Calcutta residents said they were buying oxygen concentrators and storing oxygen cylinders after hearing about the harrowing experiences of their friends and relatives who live in cities like Delhi and Gurgaon.

“My cousin has told me how Covid patients in Delhi are dying unable to breathe because they are not getting oxygen cylinders or concentrators at home and are unable to get a bed in hospital,” said a 50-year-old resident of a high-rise building in south Calcutta.

He has bought an oxygen concentrator though none in the family members has contracted Covid.

A businessman who lives in Garia has kept an oxygen cylinder at home. The businessman, his wife and son had Covid last year.

“This year the severity of the disease is much more and every day I hear about the crisis of hospital beds. So, if any of us has Covid, we can at least have some basic support at home for a day or two, till we arrange a hospital bed.” he said.

Home healthcare providers said they had run out of oxygen devices and were refusing homecare of several Covid patients.

“People have realised that oxygen is the lifeline to fight Covid at home. Apart from medicines, oxygen cylinders and concentrators are now the most important things to keep at home. People are keeping even empty cylinders and this has created high demand for oxygen devices,” said Souvik Bhattacharya, unit head, Calcutta, Apollo Home Healthcare.

Apollo Home Healthcare has sold 50 oxygen concentrators in the past 10 days. On Friday, 150 concentrators and 60 cylinders of the company were out on rent.

“Among those who have taken the devices on rent, there are around 75 who are suffering from Covid, COPD and other diseases that require oxygen support. As for the remaining 135-odd, we are not sure whether they are using the devices,” Bhattacharya said.

“We have decided that a concentrator or a cylinder would be given on rent for 15 days, after which if someone is unable to produce a doctor's advice, a heavy penalty will be charged.”

Portea Medical, another home healthcare service provider, spoke of a similar crisis.

“Over the past month, we have sold around 80 concentrators and given 200 such devices and cylinders on rent. In normal times, we would barely sell 10 devices a month and give out on rent 30 to 40 such devices,” said Nabarun Shaha, unit head, Calcutta, Portea Medical.

“We have run out of stock and are awaiting supplies. So we have to refuse several Covid patients who need homecare and oxygen support.”

As the demand for oxygen concentrators soars, many stores which never sold such devices are selling them now.

RG Cellulars, which sells mobile phones and other gadgets from its 20 stores, has started selling oxygen concentrators.

“We have already sold 300 oxygen concentrators from the 20 stores,” said Ravi Gupta, director, RG Cellulars. They are importing another 250 oxygen concentrators from China.