Chinese oximeters flood Indian market

According to experts, the Indian market is swamped with pulse oximeters made in China, with them accounting for 90% of the total oximeter sales in the country. Most of these oximeters are available under various brand names, can be bought are available at pretty affordable prices, and as per fresh observations, returning incorrect readings.

One of the reasons why they are economically priced is that these devices enjoy the lowest duty on import from China from the Indian customs, despite the government’s call for Atmanirbhar Bharat. Further, there are zero mandatory quality checks and even documentation for pulse oximeters. Experts think that as fears of the third wave in the country gather steam, Chinese pulse oximeters will be sold like hotcakes.

“We have been seeking import duty of 15% to neutralize the production disability factor and in lines of consumer electronic and mobile phones where duty is 15%-20% as Make in India enabler,” Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry stated. “90% of the world’s oximeters which are selling globally amid the pandemic are Chinese, which also includes India. However, to sell in China, foreign companies have to follow strict CFDA rules which have very high processing time and cumbersome paperwork. This is done by China to encourage its own domestic companies and to ensure foreign companies selling in China are nothing but the best. China also has a wonderful export incentive policy to fuel built products and capture larger market share by being very competitive,” Sunil Khurana, CEO & MD, BPL Medical Technology Pvt. Ltd added.