Moldova dependent on import of medical masks

Chisinau, 27 February /MOLDPRES/ - A medical mask has got to cost as much as one gram of gold in Italy and a substantial increase in prices for these consumables is recorded all over the world. Health, Labour and Social Protection Minister Viorica Dumbraveanu made statements to this effect during hearings on the epidemiological situation as to the infection with Coronavirus, held in parliament today.   

According to Dumbraveanu, the Health Ministry is daily contacted by counterparts from Italy, Germany, Turkey and other countries, who show interest in whether Moldova has available stocks of medical masks.

In parliament’s plenum, Dumbraveanu said that Moldova was fully dependent on the import of masks, as there is a single producer in the country, which makes a small quantity of masks.  

The minister noted that, with the outburst of the infection with Coronavirus, the import price of the medical masks had increased. Thus, while earlier, the masks were imported at a price of several bans, now, their import price is 4-5 lei. ‘’The import price for masks with a high level of protection has substantially increased, while earlier these masks were imported at a price of 12 lei for one mask,’’ the official added.

The health minister reminded also about the government’s decision to cap at 20 per cent the trade markup on the entire chain (from importers, producers to the final consumers) for three types of medical use products: medical masks and gloves and the medical disinfectants included in the state register of biocidal products.