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Sanitizers and hand rubs continues to be sold at inflated prices
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 30
Despite a standing directive from the Central government for maintaining uniformity of prices of surgical masks and hand rubs, the items continue to be sold at inflated rates in Dimapur.
The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution had on March 21 issued a notification directing that the prices of 2 ply and 3 ply masks and hand sanitizers should be regulated to prevent hiking of prices owing to the high demand of the items.
The notification stated that the retail price of 2 ply and 3 ply surgical masks should not exceed Rs 10 and Rs 8 per piece, respectively. The retail price of hand sanitizers should not exceed Rs 100 per 200 ml, it said.
In pursuance of the directive, the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur had also issued a press release on March 27, while stating that the price as regulated will remain in force till June 30, 2020.
However, the directives have had no effect in Dimapur as medical stores continue to sell the items at inflated prices.
2 ply surgical mask was being sold for Rs 30 a piece, while the prices of a 100 ml bottle of sanitizers ranged from Rs 199-250 varying from brand to brand. 50 ml bottles were being sold at Rs 170 a piece, while the prices of 200 ml bottles were more than double that of 100ml bottles.
A pharmacist was queried why they are not maintaining the prices as regulated by the government. He replied that retail price is subject to the prevailing wholesale price. “Our (retail) price is dictated by the price maintained by the medical wholesalers in Dimapur. We also have to make a small profit,” he said.
He disclosed that the wholesale rate of 2 ply mask was Rs 25, while the wholesale rate of a 100 ml bottle of hand sanitizer was Rs 185 as on March 30.
One week prior to the national lockdown, he added that in Dimapur, the wholesale price of 2 ply surgical mask was Rs 18 a piece and the retail rate was Rs 20.
He was further asked if he was aware of the directive from the Consumer Affairs Ministry and the subsequent notification from the DC. He replied he was not aware but added that he will have to stop procuring and selling the two items if the wholesalers continue to ignore the government’s directive and dictate the pricing.
