During the state of public health emergency declared nationwide, the protective face masks are sold at the purchase price or the delivery price with a profit margin that does not exceed 20%, the Ministry of Health said in a response to an inquiry made by IPN in connection with the major difference in the prices of disposable protection masks in national drugstores, which range from 12 lei ten pieces to 8 lei a piece.

According to the Ministry, the prices of medical devices and protective equipment in the Republic of Moldova are not regulated and are not registered, as in the case of medicines. In 2020, by a Government decision, the medical face masks were added to the list of socially important products.

The Ministry noted that during the past half a year, to ensure control and a comfortable price for the citizens, there was drafted a decision to amend Government Decision No. 603/1997 for approving the regulations on the formation of prices of medicines and other pharmaceutical products. The draft is being finalized.