Pharmacies in Lanzarote continue to have supply problems with masks and also denounce the "exorbitant prices" to be able to get them. "It's a scam," they told La Voz from the El Jablillo Pharmacy in Costa Teguise, where they say that "before a box of 50 surgical masks cost four euros and now 60 or 70".
"We are not going to enter that game and we prefer not to have them," they pointed out from this establishment, which is not the only one that has made this decision. "Prices have risen exorbitantly and it is not a plan to be asking for masks at 10 euros," they indicated from the pharmacy located on San Borondón street in Playa Honda, from where they have also refused to buy them at those prices, despite the fact that they affirm that "day after day" they receive customers asking for them.
"We are waiting to see if they are already given with a prescription, although for this they will first have to arrive, because it is contradictory that the Government now says that masks must be worn if there are none," they added from the Playa Honda pharmacy.
"They should be free"
Complaints about the lack of masks and the increase in prices are repeated by other pharmacies on the island. However, it must be remembered that, after the non-essential economic activity was resumed this week, the Cabildo began distributing masks to public transport users, as well as to workers in construction companies.
"It is a disgrace that the laboratories have raised prices, because people also think it is us and they should be free," they have also criticized from the Los Arcos pharmacy in Puerto del Carmen, who in this case complain especially about the increase in the cost of filter masks. "Before, one cost you two euros and now they ask you for at least six, although nothing comes either," they added, also pointing out the supply problems.
"We, the filter ones, have had to raise the price by six euros, because that is what they have raised it for us," they say from the La Destila pharmacy in Arrecife, where they hope to receive "in the next few days", but as of today they do not have masks either. "We don't have any masks," they have also conveyed from the Los Robles pharmacy in Arrecife and from the one located on Dr. Cerdeña Bethencourt street in San Bartolomé.
Disinfectant gels and gloves
Thus, none of the six pharmacies consulted by La Voz has masks. In addition, although to a lesser extent, they also continue to suffer from supply problems of hydroalcoholic gel and gloves, although they affirm that in this case prices remain more or less the same.
"Here we have nothing at all, it's a joke," they say from the El Jabillo pharmacy in Costa Teguise. "We don't have gels and only one box of gloves, which we are giving away to customers who come so that at least they can take something," they pointed out from the Playa Honda pharmacy.
In the other four pharmacies consulted, they have disinfectant gels, but not gloves. "We don't even have gloves for ourselves," they specified from the Los Arcos pharmacy. "Here we only have gels, and thanks to a company from Lanzarote that had them and gave them to us," they pointed out from the Playa Honda pharmacy.
Distribution companies blame manufacturers for the price increase
Regarding masks, the Federation of Pharmaceutical Distributors (FEDIFAR) has assured this Wednesday that it is working "intensively" to supply this material to pharmacy offices. However, it has recognized the difficulties that companies are having in being able to stock up through the usual suppliers of these products, "even more so when until April 3 all imports of this material were destined for healthcare personnel, which made it impossible to supply the wholesale warehouses and, therefore, the pharmacy offices".
In addition, the employers' association assures that the market is currently marked "by speculation and the lack of health guarantees" and that also "pharmaceutical distribution companies operate in an environment of uncertainty". ·We do not have information on whether there will be a price regulation, something important to know at what price masks can be purchased on the market; we also do not know the distribution channels that will be set for their sale or free distribution, or if the health authorities will intervene again in batches acquired by wholesalers... We operate in a framework of great uncertainty and lack of information, which greatly hinders the management of this situation by our companies", indicates the president of FEDIFAR,
Regarding the increase in the price of masks, the employers' association insists that "given the great global demand for masks, manufacturers and international intermediaries have increased their price in the market". Thus, it affirms that "the increase in the sale price to pharmacies" also "cannot be attributed to the application of a disproportionate margin by the wholesaler". "In no case are the companies that make up FEDIFAR unusually increasing the margin they apply to these products; moreover, on many occasions they apply insufficient margins to cover the costs of operations," he concludes.