TN traders profit by selling fake N95 masks, gloves during outbreak

“The N95 mask which was known only among the medical practitioners is now a common commodity and is easily available. Hence fake masks and sanitisers are doing rounds and identifying them is a big issue. At present, the focus is on identifying corona hotspots and treating patients,” the official rued.

“Now with ICMR insisting the states and druggists be cautious over Chinese products, Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association (TNCDA) members have reached a consensus on not purchasing Chinese products,” said K Manoharan, president, Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association. Most members stopped buying Chinese products even before COVID outbreak and now with the issue sensitised, we are staying away from China products, he told DT Next.

“Though leading Indian manufacturers have started supplying clinical items, the cost of surgical gloves and masks has shot up making way for substandard grey market,” said S Elangovan, a leading drug dealer in Chennai. The cost of medium-sized gloves usually imported from Malaysia and Indonesia would be Rs 220 per pack comprising 100 gloves. But after the outbreak in Europe, the price surged to Rs 470 and now with Asian countries reporting many cases, price had peaked to Rs 720, Elangovan said. We are not procuring fake products, the druggist added. “N95 is the US standard for masks and K N95 is the Chinese standard for masks. The regular consumer will not know these variants. There is an immediate need to check whether the supplied medical goods are sterile,” warned a government medical practitioner stating that gloves and PPE used in government hospitals need a quality upgradation.

With traders remaining tightlipped, the police and the Civil Supplies Consumer Protection Department are waiting for official complaints. At present, the ICMR is entrusted with quality checks and verifications, a senior police officer said, when contacted.