DISCOUNT pharmacies are synonymous with cut price scripts and low-cost cosmetics.
Having built a strong reputation in the South African community pharmacy sector for its low prices, it appears discounter, Dis-Chem, decided to change tack whacking up the price of face masks by up to 261% in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Africa's Competition Tribunal issued the discounter with a fine of $102,200 for charging "exorbitant prices" for masks as the country grappled with the global health crisis.
"Dis-Chem's conduct was not only exploitative to the detriment of consumers but also reprehensible in the context of COVID-19, and requires serious sanction," the tribunal ruled.
However, the group has claimed the tribunal's findings were unfair and contained "errors of fact and law".
Dis-Chem also argued that the case failed to consider issues surrounding local suppliers, saying it had to pay high prices to import masks.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 28 Jul 20
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