Director of Nghe An Department of Health: Will revoke business license if pharmacy increases mask price

On the morning of February 1, the Government held an online conference with leaders of provinces, cities and departments and branches on strengthening measures to prevent and combat the complicated developments of the acute respiratory disease caused by the new strain of Corona virus. The conference was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

At Nghe An bridge, comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Director of the Department of Health Duong Dinh Chinh co-chaired.

At the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that the acute respiratory disease caused by the new strain of Corona virus is complicated, unpredictable and spreading very quickly. Today, the Ministry of Health will propose that the Prime Minister declare an epidemic in Vietnam.

Scene at Nghe An bridge. Photo: Tien Hung

In recent days, Nghe An people have rushed to buy medical masks. Photo: Tien Hung

Regarding the issue of mask supply, the leader of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that currently, the country has 38 units producing 3-layer masks with an output of more than 1.2 million pieces/day; 2 units producing N95 masks with a production capacity of 32 thousand pieces/day, fully meeting domestic demand.

Deputy Prime Minister directs strict handling of mask speculation cases. Photo: Tien Hung

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct the Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities to maintain the price of masks and request the immediate withdrawal of business licenses of stores that increase prices. “This is a matter of discipline and business ethics. Some individuals and units deliberately profit by sending masks abroad by post. I request the postal sector to pay attention to this issue to take measures to remind them. If they repeat the offense, they will confiscate them and distribute them for free to the people. In cases of speculation, in addition to strict punishment, masks will be confiscated and distributed for free to the people,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Talking to Nghe An Newspaper reporters about this issue, Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of Nghe An Department of Health said that yesterday, the Department also continuously received feedback from people about pharmacies increasing the price of medical masks. However, this item is not managed by the Department of Health but by the Market Management force, the Department's leaders then exchanged this information with the Nghe An Market Management Department.

"But today, right after receiving the Deputy Prime Minister's directive, we immediately sent this information to licensed pharmacies in the area. If any pharmacy is found to have increased prices, the Department of Health will have the right to immediately revoke the business license. This afternoon, the Department's leaders will directly visit the pharmacies to inspect this issue," said Mr. Chinh.