Pharmacies that raise price of sanitiser or masks face fine

PHARMACIES have been warned against raising prices of face masks and hand sanitiser.

Two watchdogs yesterday published an open letter to pharmacy owners telling them there was no excuse for increasing profit margins on high-demand hygiene products during the pandemic.

Early in the crisis there were reports of hand sanitiser being sold in corner shops for as much as £15 a bottle.

The letter, from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC), said that while increased supplier costs could mean prices would have to rise, they would consider fining firms that took advantage.

The CMA recently investigated four companies, including pharmacies, that it suspected of charging “excessive and unfair” prices for hand sanitiser.

The letter read: “It is vital that trust in pharmacy continues to be maintained. We would like to thank the vast majority of pharmacies who are striving to do the right thing and look after people under exceptionally challenging social and business circumstances.

“Unfortunately, we have received reports alleging that a small minority of pharmacies are seeking to benefit from the coronavirus pandemic by charging unjustifiably high prices for essential products – including hand sanitiser, face masks and paracetamol – which continue to be in very high demand.”

A spokesman for the National Pharmacy Association, a trade body, said: “The letter from the CMA and GPC acknowledges that pharmacies are providing vital services under challenging circumstances, which include higher operating costs and wholesale price increases arising from Covid-19.

“Any unjustifiable pricing in a minority of pharmacies risks obscuring the heroic efforts of pharmacists across the land during the coronavirus pandemic.”