Shortage of masks, gloves and sanitisers as people get ready to return to work
The government's decision to lift restrictions to enable more people to return to work in the Western Province and bring back normalcy, has created a shortage of masks, gloves and sanitisers in pharmacies.
The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) said that the demand for the items among offices, businesses and workers reporting to work has spiked in the last week.
Chief Drug Inspector Amit Perera said that there was no maximum retail price (MRP) on surgical face masks sold in pharmacies and unscrupulous traders are cashing in.
He said that the face masks that were sold at Rs. 15 during the pre Covid 19 period shot up unprecedentedly in March due to the demand created by panic stricken masses, forcing the government to fix a maximum retail price (MRP).
On January 29, 2020 the MRP on face mask was fixed at Rs. 50 by a gazette notification. However within six weeks, for reasons unknown, a counter gazette notification was issued by the Health Ministru in March 16, 2020 revoking the first notification.
Meanwhile the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation said that consumers can purchase face masks at Rs.50 MRP at its Osusala sales outlets.
General Manager
K.M.D.R. Dassanayake said that a consignment of 2.5 million surgical face masks from India is expected on Tuesday (12) and that increase in the supply will bring down the prices.
'consumers can buy the mask at our Osusala outlets and from our 52 distributors countrywide', he said.
Meanwhile it is learnt that offices and workplaces have been stocking sanitizers, hand gloves and clinical thermometers to provide their workers maximum safety from the Covid 19 virus.
Consumers complained that the price of face masks and sanitizers have shot up in price.
'The pharmacies are selling a disposable face mask between Rs. 80 to 90,' a customer complained.