I can’t breathe Prices of oxygen monitoring devices have shot through the roof An increasing number of covid patients are suffering a fall in oxygen saturation levels resulting in a sharp rise in the demand for pulse oximeters, with many pharmacies running out of stock. The few pharmacies that can supply these non-invasive monitoring devices are selling them at high prices ranging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,500. The owner of one such shop said, “Even before the second wave could hit us, these devices were being sold for Rs 1,100. The prices started increasing with the rise in covid cases. Then from Rs 1,500 the price went up to Rs 2,500 and now we are selling them for Rs 3,000. If the number of covid cases continue to increase, the prices will also increase as every household wants to buy one.”