In consideration of the prevailing situation due to epidemic disease COVID-19, the drugs control administration, under the directorate of health and family welfare, has directed all the medicine dealers, both retailers and wholesalers, in the that sell of all surgical masks and hand sanitizer should be sold as per the maximum retail price (MRP) fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in compliance of the Drugs (Price Control) Order 2013 and not otherwise.
In an order, additional drugs controller WH Patton cautioned that any dealer found charging beyond the approved MRP would be liable for prosecution under-7 of the Essential Commodities Act 1955 and under appropriate section of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act and Rules 1945.
The consumers have also been requested to contact 7085652962 and 9383087474 for any complaint/grievances.
As reported in Nagaland Post, the demand for surgical and N95 masks including hand sanitizers increased manifold in the state with some people claiming they were being sold at rates much higher than the actual cost.
Amid coronavirus scare across the country, face masks and hand sanitizers ran out of stock in Kohima and Dimapur.
With face masks in high demand including hand sanitizers, prices of these items shot up by almost 50%. These items were slow moving, but the coronavirus scare has made people stock up by buying in bulk, a shopkeeper informed Nagaland Post.
In Dimapur as well, a wholesale dealer told Nagaland Post that there has been a sudden surge in demand for face masks and hand sanitizers. “Due to shortage of supply from the main dealers, we are unable to meet the market demand,” he added.
It may be pointed out that Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan sought strict action against those charging inflated prices for face masks.
His comments come in the wake of shortage of masks and sanitizers in the market and chemists charging higher than the normal price as the coronavirus scare rises. “Strict action should be taken against those black marketing the masks,” he tweeted in Hindi.