City runs for cover,shops run out of masks

There are three kinds of masks available in the market,one is made of cloth,the other is a disposable mask and the third a pollution mask.

The highest demand is for the MMM N95 disposable mask as it apparently offers the best protection.

“There has been a tremendous increase in demand for these masks. Each costs Rs 120 and we have sold over 1,000 since yesterday,” said Sheetal Bhandari,partner,Nitin distributors,a city-based medical equipment distributor.

“We supply masks to 1,500 retailers and chemists across the city and have not been able to supply many others due to the sharp and sudden rise in demand,” he said,adding that medical stores from Kothrud have recorded the maximum demand for the masks.

The supply-demand ratio is almost 1:3. An official of MMM,one of the largest manufacturers of masks that makes the N95 disposable masks,said,“Our routine consumers are doctors and paramedics and we had planned our production based on the usual demand. A-month-and-a-half ago we had foreseen an increase in demand due to swine flue,but supply was delayed due to late shipments. We are expecting more stocks by August 13,after which we will be able to cater to the requirements.”

City-based Surgicare that stocks imported masks in large numbers,admitted that they have been able to supply only 800 masks against the demand of over 3,000 since yesterday.

“Considering that many mask manufacturers are from the United States where swine flu has spread and these companies are catering to their own needs first before dispatching masks to India,” said Gaurav Shah,proprietor,Surgicare.