Kupwara: Amid the increasing global scare of novel coronavirus, the medical stores in north Kashmir especially in Kupwara have started to charge extra on hand sanitizers, hand washes and face masks despite reports that sub-standard material was being sold by Chemists.
According locals complained about the skyrocketing prices of face masks, hand sanitizers and hand washes with no check from authorities whether the items being sold are useful/ original or people are being duped by medical stores for their petty interests.
Locals said that almost all the medical stores have started to overcharge the consumers who visited them to buy essential items used as precautionary measure these days. “Chemists are not only overpricing but the medical stores have started to keep these items in stock and order new stock for which they over charging the masses in absence of check from authorities,” a group of locals alleged.
Muhammad Omar, a local student claimed to have visited a medical store within main town Kupwara where he was charged more than the amount on price tag of a face mask and sanitizer.
“Chemists are arrogant. They told me that if you want buy these items buy or instead go somewhere else,” he said.
Medical Superintendent District Handwara Dr Abdul Rouf said that these issues and complaints are to be checked by drug inspector not by them.
Chief medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara Abdul Gani Dar on being contacted said that teams have been constituted by district administration, with concerned Tehsildars and Sub Divisional magistrates asked to keep close vigil on all such concerns, its them who have been asked to track the happening.
Drug inspector Kupwara Feroz Ahmad said that there is shortage of the stock in Kupwara. “I recently conveyed a meeting with all the Chemists who appraised me about the hike in prices of these items (masks, sanitizers and handwash) from dealers. Now they have decided not to avail this stock to halt the over pricing,” he said—(KNO)
Amid COVID-19 scare, sub-standard hand sanitizers, masks sold unchecked in Kupwara
