Drug control body directs pharmacies, chemists not to charge extra for masks, sanitisers

Hyderabad: Masks and hand sanitisers are flying off the shelves in medical shops and pharmacies in the wake of the Corona virus outbreak in the country. While one person from Telangana tested positive for the virus on 2 March, the state has been taking precautionary measures and people have been buying masks and sanitisers on a large scale.

In view of the current situation, the drug control administration (DCA) has issued a fresh advisory asking all pharmacies and chemists not to resort to overpricing hand sanitisers and masks. Appealing to all chemist and druggist associations in Andhra Pradesh, the drug control body said, “Keep adequate stock of these products (hand sanitisers and masks) and distribute them judiciously to the customers.”

The DCA also asked pharmacies to not indulge in any "unhealthy practice of withholding stocks and overcharging these items”. It has strictly advised against hoarding and has directed active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers not to withhold stocks of the 58 formulations identified by the Union government as essential drugs for the treatment of Covid-19 infected patients.