According to rough estimates, there are around 40,000 ventilators currently available in India. (File photo: PTI)

As coronavirus cases climb in the country, an India Today investigation has laid bare a grim reality -- stockpiling and price-gouging of ventilators.

The devices pump oxygen into failing lungs. Critical Covid-19 patients may need them for survival.

HOARDING SHOOTS UP DEMAND

When India Today probed Kamlesh Maurya, the business head of Delhi's Medikam Enterprises, he admitted that soaring demands are prompting distributors like him to increase their prices of portable refurbished respirators.

"Demand is high. There's no availability of ventilators," he told India Today's undercover reporter. "If you are fine with buying different brands, it will cost you more (than the regular price). If I have to ask for price quotations from the dealerships, it will be in the range of six lakh (rupees)."

The same device would normally cost half the amount, he acknowledged.

Maurya claimed the price hikes have taken place in less than a week because of a scramble induced by coronavirus fears -- and not because of medical emergencies.

"Companies have run out of stock now. People are ready to pay six-seven lakh rupees (per refurbished machine). Life is more important than money," he said. "Earlier, a brand-new piece would cost seven lakh rupees," he added.

WELL-OFF STOCKPILING VENTILATORS

Naman Jain of Teerthanker Mahaveer Traders in Delhi disclosed how high-ranking officials and housing societies are stockpiling portable ventilators, just in case.

An assistant commissioner of police, he insisted, was one of his customers who he said had recently bought three machines at a premium price.

"Do you mean he bought them for no immediate use?" the reporter asked.

"Nothing (of that sort). Just for safety purposes," Jain replied. "We, the vendors here, collectively had 6,000 ventilators, out of which 700-740 were Trilogy (portable Philips ventilators). Now only 11-12 are left," Jain said.

He revealed how apartments in a housing society pooled their money to buy 10-12 devices. "That's how it's gone to housing societies, most of them in Noida. A hundred houses buying ten of them, just in case."

A new BiPap machine, a type of ventilator, would normally cost around Rs 2.25 lakh, Jain said. "Now a used device is selling over Rs 1.5 lakh."

"How much would an old device otherwise cost?" asked the reporter.

"Around 60,000-85,000 rupees," the distributor replied.

Gursharan at Imperial Gases and Surgical Pvt Ltd in Delhi's Kotla area confessed that his company is also going to sell ventilators at premium because of high demands.

"Those who wanted to take it individually should have taken it before. They are making inquiries now for personal use when the demand has peaked," said Gursharan, wearing a mask. "As soon as we begin to run out of stock, we will increase the rates."

There's no guarantee about availability, he added. "They may be sold out while we are talking. We are getting many calls."

Gursharan demanded cash payment for supplying life-saving machines.

VIOLATING GOVERNMENT BAN?

In Ghaziabad bordering Delhi, Gajendra Singh of YMG Healthcare admitted that authorities have prohibited the sale of ventilators to private entities and individuals in order to prevent stockpiling.

But he still offered the devices at a premium price.

"I had 20 (ventilator) monitors. I gave preference to our existing clients, who made inquiries," he said. "It's a game of demand and supply. More demand and less supply increase the prices."

According to Singh, his company has received orders for supplying five mini ventilators at Rs 84,000 per piece.

"You can pick them up from Nangloi (in Delhi) for 3.70 lakh (rupees)."

According to rough estimates, there are around 40,000 ventilators currently available in India.

This month, the central government banned export of ICU medical devices, including ventilators, and sanitizers in order to deal with the shortages.

"If this coronavirus spreads, the requirement (for ventilators) will shoot up to two lakh," Singh said. "This is a war-like situation for the government. If it comes to know that I have the stocks and I have committed sale, they will not allow me to sell them to anyone else."

The distributor admitted that all companies dealing in manufacturing and sale of ventilators have been told to restrict their supplies only to the government. "They are not to be sold to any private entity/individual. The Ghaziabad administration has told me that my supplies will only go to them."

"But we will get it, right?" the reporters probed.

"Sir, I wouldn't have called you or spoken with you (if I didn't want to sell)," he replied.

DISTRIBUTORS ENCOURAGING STOCKPILING

At Delhi's Najafgarh, Manish Dhankhar, director of UM Healthcare India, promised supplies of new ventilators for home use in the future.

"People do take advantage of the situation. The government is asking for support. But will the government come forward to support tomorrow?" he said.



"Isn't it wrong to stock up ventilators for private use?" investigated the reporter.

"No. You have to save yourself first. No government will support you," replied Dhankar, justifying the sale of ventilators to individual buyers for no medical reasons.

He demanded Rs 3.92 lakh for five portable units, with 50 per cent in advance.