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Many medical stores continue to sell the two and the three layered surgical masks at inflated prices, despite capped prices. No action has been undertaken against the medical stores in Mumbai. The prices were hiked by around 400% to tackle demands, when an initial case of the COVID-19 was reported in Maharashtra. The Union ministry of consumer affairs conveyed to all that the prices of two and three layered surgical face masks should be capped at Rs. 8 and Rs. 10 respectively. There were raids in Pune for overpricing the masks, but the same has not been done in Mumbai. Even no consumer complaints were received in Mumbai.
The masks were found to be selling at inflated prices ranging from Rs. 10 to 20. The Proximity of stores near hospitals further increased prices. Abhay Pandey, national president, All Food & Drug License Holder Foundation, said that the medical stores near hospitals sell masks at steeper prices. There is no one to keep an eye on them. The Officers are being sent to catch sellers, but masks are not seized. Just warnings are given, and cases are transferred to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.
The Activists asserted that the rights of the citizens had been violated by arbitrarily increasing the prices of basic amenities in the crisis. The cap imposed on the prices was never implemented. The Singapore Government installed the mask vending machines. According to Anjali Damania, founder-trustee of Voice of Indian Taxpayers, a non-governmental organisation, those machines provide masks at free of cost. In India, this pandemic has been turned into a business.
The N 95 masks have been declared as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act. There is no cap on its price. Even private hospitals, clinics and nurseries are forced to buy it at humongous prices. These are added to the patients’ Bill. The mask was priced at Rs. 20 during the outbreak but now it is being sold at Rs. 350. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority is responsible for regulating its price, but it is unsuccessful. Instead of regulations, black marketing and hoarding have been done.
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