The 15 firms faced were faced with recession due to many challenges in their businesses and this led to their closure, the Afghanistan Chambers Federation said.
The private sector says that 15 out of 30 firms that supply oxygen for hospitals have remained closed over lack of power, financial problems, and other challenges, leaving the country's hospitals with a severe lack of oxygen amidst a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan.
According to the federation, the government had promised to financially support the private sector, including factories, but some gas firms that produce oxygen lack enough electricity for their operations and are faced with financial problems.
“We would have overcome oxygen shortage (in hospitals) if the government helped the factories to resume their operations by providing them loans,” said Sakhi Ahmad Paiman, the deputy head of the federation.
The price of one oxygen cylinder has increased to 1,500 Afs from 500 Afs previously as demand for the product soars.
Workers at Maihan Dost Firm said that despite working round the clock, they cannot meet the demand of the market for medical oxygen.
