The business entities have the right to increase the prices of medical face masks. According to Prime Minister Ion Chicu, the profit margin on this type of products is not banned, but there are now no preconditions in Moldova for the prices of masks to be raised. Therefore, the Government will take a decision by which it will limit the profit margin on medical masks, IPN reports.
“There are now reasons for intervening. Formally, the companies can raise the price as the profit margin on these products is not capped. In the next meeting of the Cabinet, we will limit the profit margin on masks and other similar products,” Premier Chicu stated in the talk show “Fourth power” on N4 channel, adding the State Tax Service and the Financial Inspectorate will carry out inspections at drugstores and storehouses in the evening of February 26 or in the morning of February 27.
The official said the current rise in prices is unfounded as there are sufficient supplies of masks in storehouses and the shortage is created artificially so that these masks could be sold for 10-15 lei in two-three days.
Premier Chicu also spoke about the removal of the draft decision concerning the initiation of negotiations on the agreement on the mutual abolition of visa requirements between the Government of Moldova and the Government of the People’s Republic of China from the agenda of the February 26 meeting of the Cabinet. He said that this move is not related to the virus coming from China.
“It’s true that we have held discussions on the issue with the Chinese side for about three years. Two elements are being considered: the first element is the liberalization of short-stay visas with the aim of stimulating tourism, and the second element is the free trade regime. They go in parallel. We hoped we will be able to make progress on both of the elements simultaneously, but we haven’t agreed the categories of goods for the second element. The coordination of the list of goods takes time,” stated Ion Chicu.
As regards the reports that Moldova is not ready to cope with the coronavirus and the government reacted too late to take security measures, the official said the first measures were taken when the World Health Organization issued the alert about the coronavirus in China.
“In two days of the WHO’s announcement, we convoked the National Commission for Public Health and discussed the situation. After the meeting, each of the institutions knew what responsibilities they had. Wards and beds were prepared at “Toma Ciorbă” Hospital in the eventually of infection cases,” stated the Premier, noting the government officials will not appear daily on TV to talk about the coronavirus as this is populism.
