Not Hoarding, Polda Metro Ensures Scarcity Of Oxygen Cylinders Because Purchasing Power Increases

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JAKARTA - Polda Metro Jaya confirmed that there was no hoarding of oxygen cylinders behind the scarcity issue in the market. Instead, the scarcity occurred due to increased demand following the increase in positive cases of COVID-19.

"It's just that there is an increase in demand because we all know that the number of referral hospitals for COVID-19 BOR is quite high," said the Head of Public Relations of the Metro Jaya Police, Kombes Yusri Yunus, to reporters, Wednesday, June 30.

Even though the availability of oxygen cylinders is running low, Yusri continued, producers are still able to provide them for the community. However, for now, priority is given to referral hospitals.

"But until now, the producers are still accepting, this is from a coordination meeting with the existing producers that we have called for us to ask directly," said Yusri.

In addition to the high demand, the scarcity of oxygen cylinders is also due to the high purchasing power per individual. Thus, the existence of oxygen cylinders is rarely on the market.

"But with the current situation, there are quite a lot of requests from individuals, which are currently crowded in shops, because there is a demand for individuals," he said.

For that, Yusri appealed to the public not to buy oxygen cylinders in excess. Because, it will have an impact on the distribution of oxygen cylinders in hospitals.

"While indeed, our government has made a priority scale for hospitals that have been made a priority scale. But at the hospital there is not enough to date," he said.