Taking notice of surge in prices of face masks as well as its shortage, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has started crackdown on those involved in artificial price hike and shortage of the protective gears.
After the reports of coronavirus cases in Pakistan, face masks are not available on leading medical stores in the provincial metropolis. When this scribe visited two stores of leading chains of drugs retail sale, the concerned salesmen told that they are short of supply of these masks but optimistic that the same will be available within three days or so.
However, there are a few businesses and individuals who are selling face masks for grossly inflated prices amid a surge in demand. Mostly small pharmacies are taking advantage of the current situation. Many are claiming that they have run out of stocks of masks.
DRAP has urged all customers to report cases if they come across hiked prices for face masks. DRAP's task force has been constituted to conduct market surveys for the determination of overpricing. Serious action would be taken against owners of some medical stores who were involved in the unauthorized increase in prices of protective gears, sources in DRAP said. DRAP authorities will seal the medical stores that were selling masks at a price higher than usual, the sources added.
Parliamentary Secretary, National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Nausheen Hamid said authorities concerned are cracking down on profiteers. She mentioned a government helpline has also been set up to address questions related to coronavirus, adding, around 11,000 calls were received through this helpline number yet.
She further mentioned that the people who were healthy did not need to wear masks and citizens should focus on maintaining hygiene and washing hands to remain healthy.
She requested public not to panic as they are cautioned and making all proactive preventive measures to keep our people safe. On the other hand, Punjab University Chief Medical Officer Dr Muhammad Akram said that there was no need to fear corona virus but the people should adopt preventive measures to avoid the disease.
In this regard, PU Teaching Hospital has published pamphlets, posters and banners to raise awareness among the people. Although, the infection had spread in various countries of the world, the people needed to only adopt preventive measures to cope with the virus, Dr Akram added. He said that the people should avoid fried and spicy food items, use vitamin C, cook the food at full strength, wash their hands after some time, avoid keeping in touch with animals, cover the nose and mouth during cough and remain away from the patients suffering from flu.