Keep prices of masks under control: Telangana High Court to government

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday sought to know from the government whether there was any monitoring on the shooting up prices of masks and hand sanitisers in the wake coronavirus scare.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and A Abhishek Reddy posed this question when petitioners in a public interest litigation informed the court that the pharmacies have been selling the masks and sanitisers at exorbitant prices which a common man cannot afford.

The petitioners submitted to the court that each mask was being sold at Rs 30 and each sanitiser was being sold anything between Rs 500 and Rs 800 taking advantage of coronavirus fears.

At this point, the court asked the government whether there was any department looking into this. The court also sought to know the action taken against errant pharmacies responsible for creating artificial shortage of masks and sanitisers and selling them at exorbitant prices.

Arguing on behalf of the state government, Advocate General B S Prasad informed the court that 10 pharmacies were seized so far and the government was closely monitoring the situation.

Replying to the bench, the AG also said utmost importance was being given to information, education and communication to create awareness among the people on coronavirus and the steps to be taken to prevent the same.

Replying to the bench, IPM (Institute of Preventive Medicine) director Dr. K Shankar said coronavirus would not spread from human to human at a temperature of 30 degrees Celsius and more. It would spread only if the temperature is less than 10 degree Celsius.

He also said three labs at IPM, Fever Hospital and MGM would be available for all for coronavirus tests from March 20, while the existing lab facilities could carry out tests for 100 people a day.

The court sought to know the findings of the study team that visited Kerala to study the measures taken by government there to prevent spread of coronavirus. Responding to this, Advocate General informed that he would file a report.

The Amicus Curiae, Narender Reddy, informed the court that monitoring of surveillance committee comprising hospitals, field staff and laboratory surveillance was utmost important.

The court directed the government and other departments concerned to file detailed status reports by March 23 and posted the matter to March 26 for further hearing.