Pharmacists in various regions of the country revealed that the demand for medical masks increased significantly during the past days, by a rate that reached, according to their estimates, to 50 times, compared to the usual sales volume, pointing out that the high demand for purchasing masks led to a severe shortage in the quantity Currently available on the market.

They explained that the medical masks were used by some patients who suffer from weak immunity, in addition to doctors and nurses, in medical facilities, and women working in women's salons, to prevent the smells of tinctures and hair straightening creams, but the emergence of the Corona virus, and its attendant global concern A media scare led to a high demand for gags, noting that the average sales average did not exceed three packages per week, at the latest, and the number during the past days increased to more than 50 packages daily.

The Ministry of Economy confirmed that exploiting the case of high consumer demand for these materials and raising their prices is a violation of the law.

She pointed to the organization of intensive inspection campaigns on the outlets, to ensure that they adhere to the prices at which the masks were sold before the news of the Corona virus spread worldwide.

And while shopping malls confirmed that their masks were depleted, and that they were seeking to order quantities from other Emirates markets, or import them from abroad, consumers indicated that the prices of medical masks witnessed a significant increase, increasing by more than 100%, as the price of the package containing 50 masks rose from 17 dirhams To 40 dirhams.

In detail, «Emirates Today» monitored the depletion of medical masks from a large number of pharmacies and shopping centers in the country, as a result of buying large quantities of them, for use or storage, while medical centers and hospitals pulled the quantities in their pharmacies for internal use from the medical staff and auditors, especially In crowded departments, such as children and women, and internal medicine.

Also, "Emirates Today", during a field tour, yesterday observed that some pharmacies have run out of the usual blue and white protective masks, which are sold for less than one dirham, than most pharmacies, due to the high demand for their purchase.

The demand for the N95 muzzle increased, causing it to raise its price to nine dirhams, while it was sold for less than seven dirhams.

Pharmacists said that they were unable to provide regular masks, as a result of the companies' inability to supply them, which led to their exhaustion from most pharmacies and commercial centers in the country, pointing to the supply of large quantities of N95 masks, of high quality.

They said that the package includes 20 masks of the type N95, sold for 175 dirhams, while they were sold for 50 dirhams, noting that the price of the masks increased by 300% during the past days, especially with the return of students to study, and the news of the Corona virus is circulated.

They added that some families believe that the masks completely prevent the virus or influenza, while preventive measures and personal hygiene are an essential factor in reducing infection with any virus and infectious diseases. Pharmacists confirmed: Muhammad Abdul-Baqi, Ashraf Wahib, Mona Mikdad, Ashok Manish, running out of stocks Their medical respirators from the end of last week, indicating that the auditors were buying more than one carton.

They added that the prices of the masks did not witness an increase, but they did not know the new prices, especially since there is a large global consumption of the masks, which will negatively affect the import and contribute to raising the prices.

Pharmacists working in pharmacies belonging to private centers and hospitals, Basil Mitias, Mahmoud Ragheb, Manar Khalifa and Walaa Murtada, said that they received administrative orders to transfer the remaining quantities from the masks to the internal pharmacies of health facilities, for use internally by the medical and administrative staff and auditors.

On the other hand, shoppers confirmed a severe shortage of medical masks in large and small outlets, and their prices increased during the past days by more than 100%. After the price of the box was between 12 and 20 dirhams, it jumped to 40 dirhams.

The consumer, Faisal Salem, said that there is a severe shortage of medical masks in the outlets, and that he looked for it after the news about the spread of the Corona virus globally, but he did not find any kind of it.

He added that he found, after trouble, a type of imported masks that included three one-time masks, at a price of 16 dirhams, which he considered a high price, because the box containing 50 masks was sold at a price between 12 and 20 dirhams.

The consumer, Abdullah Jumaa, said that he looked for medical masks in a number of major outlets, but the price of what was available was very high.

The consumer, Rami Nile, stated that he had bought a homemade mask box at a price of 12 dirhams, and that the port official had told him it was his last package.

The consumer, Aya Hammad, stated that she found a box containing 50 masks, sold for 18 dirhams.

She said that the seller told her that he sells one muzzle in dirhams, to take advantage of the high demand and lack of masks, as well as the inability of some to purchase a large amount of them.

An official at one of the major outlets, Ibrahim Ali, confirmed that the gags had run out during the past week, after high demand. He added that the outlet tried to contact more than one supplier company, but it confirmed the difficulty of supply at the present time.

He was supported in the opinion by a small grocery owner, Salem Bahzad, pointing out that the masks in the grocery store all ran out within less than 24 hours after the spread of the Corona virus globally, indicating that he could not meet consumer demands, as a result of the interruption of the supply process.

The Emirates Society for Consumer Protection stressed that there is a shortage of masks available in some areas of the country, due to the increased demand for them, which requires tighter control from the relevant authorities in various regions of the country to prevent high prices.

The President of the Association, Mohammed Khalifa bin Uzair Al-Muhairi, pointed to the implementation of intensive inspection campaigns on sales outlets and pharmacies to ensure compliance with the set prices, which were sold before the spread of «Corona» globally, stressing that the association received complaints from consumers related to raising the outlets selling and pharmacies prices of masks, Exploiting the high demand for it.

Pharmacists confirmed to "Emarat Al Youm" to request additional shipments of medical masks from suppliers to meet the increasing demand for them.

They said that the demand to buy them had doubled a lot during the past days, which caused the depletion of the available quantities of them.

For its part, the Ministry of Economy called on sales outlets, cooperative societies, pharmacies and medical stores across the country not to resort to raising prices of masks and sterilization materials, against the backdrop of high demand for them in the current period, in conjunction with the spread of the Corona virus, and the declaration of the World Health Organization global health emergency as a result.

The ministry explained that exploiting the case of high consumer demand for these materials, and raising their prices, is a violation of the law.

She emphasized that she will continue her campaigns and inspection tours on the concerned markets and outlets in the various emirates of the country, in cooperation with the competent local authorities, to ensure full commitment not to raise prices and not to exploit the increase in demand.

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The rate of increase in prices of medical respirators as a result of increased demand

- «Emirates Today» spotted running out of masks in a large number of pharmacies and shopping centers.

Medical centers and hospitals have withdrawn the quantities in their pharmacies for internal use.