State supplier Procurator Sverige AB has raised its prices for hygiene and cleaning products by 900 percent after claiming "force majeure" and been given the opportunity to depart from the original agreement. This means that the authorities are forced to pay up to ten times higher prices for, among other things, hand disinfectants.

Demand is high for hand spirit even for ordinary consumers. Will the prices of the coveted handshake also be raised for the general public in the most common pharmacy chains? The answer will be no, when SVT Nyheter calls around to four of the largest chains. However, everyone states that there are shortcomings in the suppliers and that it is difficult to replenish the stocks during periods.

- We notice a great buying pressure, especially two weeks ago when everyone bunked hands. But that bunkering has subsided. But we have no signals that our suppliers are trying to upset us, we have long-term agreements that will continue to run. We expect no dramatic price increases, says Markus Sjöqvist, Head of Communications at Apoteket.

"Do not want to capitalize on people's concerns"

Sebastian Wickberg, commercial manager at Lloyd's pharmacy, says they will not raise prices.

- We do not want to capitalize on people's concerns. We also follow the industry's recommendations that each customer may purchase a maximum of five packages.

Andreas Rosenlund, press contact at Kronan's pharmacy, says that their suppliers have so far not raised the prices of hand spirits, but that it is a shortcoming that they place a lot of focus on getting.

- We have not made any unreasonable price increases.

Apotek Hjärtat states that neither their suppliers have raised prices.