Boksburg pharmacy charged for selling overpriced face masks
A Boksburg pharmacy has been found guilty of overcharging consumers on personal protective equipment and ordered to donate essential goods to two nearby old age homes.
The Competition Commission found that Centrum Pharmacy was charging excessive prices for face masks during the country’s state of national disaster and Covid-19 lockdown period.
The commission found that the pharmacy's average mark-up for facial masks in March was more than 100%.
Subsequently, the pharmacy was ordered to donate hand sanitisers, surgical gloves and face masks valued at over R25 000 to the old age homes.
“After receiving information, the commission investigated Centrum Pharmacy’s alleged conduct and found, among others, that the pharmacy’s average mark-up in respect of facial masks for March 2020 was in excess of 100%, which is significantly above its average mark-up on ‘non-essential’ products that it has maintained over time,” the Competition Tribunal said in a statement.
“The commission found that Centrum Pharmacy’s prices charged for facial masks during March 2020 is a contravention of the Competition Act (excessive pricing) and the Consumer Protection Regulations.”
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The pharmacy will also have to desist from overpricing of essential goods.
The complaints from consumers follow the gazetting of regulations by Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel prohibiting shop owners from unlawfully hiking prices.
The commission, together with the National Consumer Commission, then launched investigations into several retailers.