Nghe An: Masks are 7 times more expensive but still 'sold out'

People rushed to buy medical masks, causing the price of this item to skyrocket. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Starting yesterday (January 30), when information appeared that a patient in Thanh Hoa was infected with the Corona virus, the price of masks began to increase, from 25,000 VND/box to 50,000 VND/box. And from today, when Nghe An had a patient suspected of being infected with the Corona virus, the prices of medical masks suddenly increased, increasing every hour, every minute. From the price of 25,000 VND, 35,000 VND, 40,000 VND/box (depending on the type) increased to 150,000 VND - 200,000 VND/box, many places sold them retail for 50,000 VND/dozen (previously only 7,000 - 8,000 VND/dozen).

Prices have skyrocketed, but people are still rushing to buy medical masks. Ms. Trinh Thi Thanh, a resident who went to buy masks, said: "Normally, I use cloth masks, but now that the epidemic has come, I only use disposable masks, so I chose to buy medical masks. They are incredibly expensive. On the morning of January 30, I bought a box for only 30,000 VND, now it has increased to 200,000 VND/box, but I still "bite the bullet" and buy it to protect the health of my whole family."

People in Vinh city crowded to buy medical masks amid news of the outbreak. Photo: Thanh Phuc

With the outbreak of the epidemic, people are doing everything they can to protect themselves, one of the most common methods is to wear masks when going to public places such as airports, train stations, streets, etc. Meanwhile, people also buy based on emotions, following the majority due to concerns about the rapid spread of the epidemic without knowing clearly which medical masks are good and which are of poor quality. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dac Phu, former Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, regular medical masks are capable of preventing the corona virus. Masks cannot block 100% of viruses with extremely small sizes, but they help prevent the habit of bringing our hands that can carry pathogens to touch our nose, mouth, eyes - the basic ways for viruses to enter the body.

The sudden increase in demand caused many pharmacies to not proactively stock up on supplies, and within just one day, they sold out of masks and hung up “out of stock” signs. Meanwhile, those that had supplies raised prices to astronomical levels.

On Nguyen Phong Sac Street (Vinh City), in the area of ​​Cua Dong General Hospital and Hung Dung Market, there are about 20 kiosks selling Western medicine, but only about 5 kiosks still have masks in stock, with prices ranging from 150,000 VND - 250,000 VND/box (5-7 times higher than normal). Mr. T.D, the owner of a Western medicine kiosk on Nguyen Phong Sac Street, said: "The masks available in the store were only 5-7 boxes and were sold out yesterday at a price of 50,000 VND/box. Today, the import price is high, so we have to sell them at a high price. Currently, there is no more source to buy."

Although the price is 5-7 times higher than before, due to the skyrocketing purchasing power, many Western pharmacies in Vinh City have had to hang "out of stock" signs. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Not only in the city, masks are out of stock, but in rural areas, medical masks are also very scarce.

Ms. Nguyen Dieu Huong, owner of a Western medicine kiosk in Bong market, Yen Thanh said: “Rural people do not have the habit of using masks, especially medical masks, so we only take a small amount to sell, not to stockpile. Therefore, when there is information about the epidemic, people ask to buy but there is nothing to sell. Normally, each one is sold for 1,000 VND, now it has increased to 3,000 VND but there is still no goods to sell. In the past two days, many people have come to ask to buy large quantities but there is no goods.”

In addition to masks, hand sanitizers, instant hand sanitizers, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also “sold out”, while regular hand sanitizers are also starting to increase in price. Many types of Vitamin C (effervescent C), and functional foods are also selling well and starting to increase in price.

According to Article 19 of the Law on Prices and the Law on Civil Aviation of Vietnam amended in 2014, medical masks are not on the List of goods and services priced by the State.

Therefore, production and business organizations and individuals are obliged to post prices according to the prices decided by the production and business organizations and individuals and are not allowed to buy or sell at prices higher than the posted prices (Point b, Clause 5, Article 12 of the Law on Prices).

In which, price posting is the act of organizations and individuals producing and trading publicly announcing in appropriate, clear and non-misleading forms to customers about the purchase and sale prices of goods and services in Vietnamese Dong by:

In case organizations and individuals producing or trading do not post prices of goods and services at locations where prices must be posted or post unclear prices causing confusion for customers, they will be fined from 500,000 VND to 1 million VND; repeated violations or recidivism will be fined from 1 to 3 million VND.

Special,fine from 5 to 10 million dongfor behaviorsell above list priceGoods and services priced by organizations and individuals that are not on the Price Stabilization List, goods and services on the List of restricted business or conditional business (Clause 3, Article 12, Decree No. 109/2013/ND-CP).