CIANJUR - Pharmacy owners in Cianjur, West Java are starting to have difficulty getting oxygen cylinders of various sizes to help with breathing for COVID-19 positive patients. In the last two months, the demand for tubes has increased rapidly.
"It's been three days since new oxygen stocks and refills are empty, it is suspected that the scarcity has occurred due to the high level of usage since the last two months," said the pharmacy owner on Jalan RSUD Cianjur, Iksan, as quoted by Antara, Monday, July 5.
Not only rare, he said, the price of new oxygen cylinders and refills has increased from Rp. 1,500,000 to Rp. 1,800,000 per cylinder complete with breathing apparatus and refills from Rp. 65,000 to Rp. 85,000 per cylinder.
However, until now, most of the pharmacies in Cianjur have empty stock, so many people in need are forced to look out of town, such as to Sukabumi, Bogor and Bandung.
"Information from distributors, the level of oxygen consumption in hospitals has soared several times, as a result of the increase in positive patients with symptoms requiring respiratory aids," he said.
He added, not only oxygen since the last two months, the level of sales of drugs for immune-boosting and vitamins has experienced the same thing, even the level of sales has increased by 100 percent.
"The need for immune-boosting drugs including vitamins per day has increased to hundreds of bottles and tablets, so we increase our stock to fulfill orders from buyers," he said.
Spokesperson for the Cianjur COVID-19 Information and Coordination Center, Dr. Yusman Faisal, said that since the last two months, the number of oxygen needs for COVID-19 patients undergoing isolation in hospitals has increased.
"Patients who are exposed to other diseases who undergo isolation in the HCU, ICU and IGD rooms almost all use oxygen aids. So that oxygen demand increases by 100 percent," he said.
His party ensures that the availability of oxygen for patients undergoing isolation in hospitals is still guaranteed because so far, the management has coordinated with several companies that provide oxygen.
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