Profiting from the pandemic
Suppliers of oxygen and medical appliances are accused of profiteering and price gouging.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
Experts say that suppliers of medical oxygen have become opportunistic and are cashing in on the Covid-19 crisis.
This is contained in a special newsletter that the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) has issued to inform their members about the availability of medical oxygen supplies.
The NAU says according to a clinical technologist who specialises in oxygen supply to intensive care facilities at hospitals, it is clear that several providers are opportunistic and apparently only chasing financial gains with what they offer to the market.
Retail outlets and entrepreneurs are selling oxygen cylinders directly to the public, while small cylinders that only hold an hour or two of medical oxygen then need to be refilled.
“Due to high safety standards and specifications for high-pressure cylinders, some of these cylinders cannot be refilled locally and must be sent to South Africa, which causes a customer to be without medical oxygen indefinitely,” the NAU explains.
The best option is to rent a cylinder from one of the medical gas providers, which can be exchanged for a full cylinder at any time, according to the union.
Options
With regard to home care, only applicable to individuals who can breathe independently, there are two options available.
An oxygen cylinder that can be obtained from any of the suppliers that supply medical gas products to hospitals may be considered.
“Such a device provides 100% pure oxygen for a limited time. The cost of refilling depends on the contents of the cylinders and medical oxygen is sold on a per-kilogram basis. The smaller the cylinder, the higher the kilogram price for the medical oxygen,” says the NAU.
According to the union, a medical practitioner will need to issue a prescription that prescribes medical oxygen at a certain flow per minute, with an indication of the hours the patient must take the medical oxygen.
“According to the estimated gas litres required, the size of the cylinder needed can be calculated to ensure that it can be used for a few days rather than having to refill cylinders every day or every other day.”
The NAU says if the doctor prescribes a flow rate of five litres per minute for a long period of time, a larger cylinder is required, which may not be practical for home use.
The best option then may be an oxygen concentrator.
“It is a device that uses atmospheric air and separates the oxygen provided by a compressor to determine a flow of oxygen, preferably at a capacity of five litres per minute of about 93 to 95% oxygen. Such a device can be set according to individual needs.”
The NAU adds that only a medical practitioner can prescribe oxygen treatment.
WINDHOEK
Experts say that suppliers of medical oxygen have become opportunistic and are cashing in on the Covid-19 crisis.
This is contained in a special newsletter that the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) has issued to inform their members about the availability of medical oxygen supplies.
The NAU says according to a clinical technologist who specialises in oxygen supply to intensive care facilities at hospitals, it is clear that several providers are opportunistic and apparently only chasing financial gains with what they offer to the market.
Retail outlets and entrepreneurs are selling oxygen cylinders directly to the public, while small cylinders that only hold an hour or two of medical oxygen then need to be refilled.
“Due to high safety standards and specifications for high-pressure cylinders, some of these cylinders cannot be refilled locally and must be sent to South Africa, which causes a customer to be without medical oxygen indefinitely,” the NAU explains.
The best option is to rent a cylinder from one of the medical gas providers, which can be exchanged for a full cylinder at any time, according to the union.
Options
With regard to home care, only applicable to individuals who can breathe independently, there are two options available.
An oxygen cylinder that can be obtained from any of the suppliers that supply medical gas products to hospitals may be considered.
“Such a device provides 100% pure oxygen for a limited time. The cost of refilling depends on the contents of the cylinders and medical oxygen is sold on a per-kilogram basis. The smaller the cylinder, the higher the kilogram price for the medical oxygen,” says the NAU.
According to the union, a medical practitioner will need to issue a prescription that prescribes medical oxygen at a certain flow per minute, with an indication of the hours the patient must take the medical oxygen.
“According to the estimated gas litres required, the size of the cylinder needed can be calculated to ensure that it can be used for a few days rather than having to refill cylinders every day or every other day.”
The NAU says if the doctor prescribes a flow rate of five litres per minute for a long period of time, a larger cylinder is required, which may not be practical for home use.
The best option then may be an oxygen concentrator.
“It is a device that uses atmospheric air and separates the oxygen provided by a compressor to determine a flow of oxygen, preferably at a capacity of five litres per minute of about 93 to 95% oxygen. Such a device can be set according to individual needs.”
The NAU adds that only a medical practitioner can prescribe oxygen treatment.
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