MP toes Centre’s guidelines on N-95 masks

BHOPAL: All deans, chief medical and health officers and civil surgeons have been cautioned against the use of N-95 type masks with respiratory valves. Following the MP health department directive, Covid-19 warriors are being told not to wear face masks with a one-way valve to which expiratory resistors are attached.


The extraordinary measures come after a similar directive on June 20 by the Union government’s Director General of Health Services (DGHS). However, DGHS has exempted designated health workers from wearing the protective gear. The Union ministry of health letter to the principal secretaries of health and medical education of states stated that “it has been observed that there is ‘inappropriate use’ of N-95 masks, particularly those with valved respirators, by the public other than designated health workers”.

The MP health directorate directive demands the chief of the hospitals to ensure that “instead of N-95 masks, masks recommended by the Union government should be used”.

The DGHS referred to the advisory on the use of homemade protective cover for face and mouth available on the website of the Union ministry of health. “N-95 expiratory resistors can be worn. We have those in sufficient quantity,” said a district hospital consultant in Bhopal. “MP health department order is ambiguous and not based on science. Masks are supposed to protect healthcare workers from getting infection,” said NGO Jan Swasth Abhiyam representative, Amulya Nidhi. When contacted, health commissioner, Sanjay Geol, did not respond.