China Takes Measures against SARS-related Price Fluctuations

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 17, 2003

China Takes Measures against SARS-related Price Fluctuations

The Chinese government is taking measures to minimize price fluctuations of certain goods in some regions that have been brought about by the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

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The Chinese government is taking measures to minimize price fluctuations of certain goods in some regions that have been brought about by the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

According to a circular issued by the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC), which is responsible for price supervision, price changes of medicine, medical equipment, food and other materials related to public health should be closely followed by local price authorities.

The SDRC urged departments concerned at various levels to report dramatic fluctuations in a timely manner and to set price ceilings or take other appropriate measures to stabilize prices if necessary. Legal sanctions will be imposed on transactions that disturb the market order.

The SDRC encouraged consumers to report any abnormal price increases by calling the nationwide hot line at 12358. It also encouraged both wholesalers and retailers to abide by the law, exercise self-discipline, standardize their prices and mark pricesclearly.

Beijing takes measures to ensure medicine supply for preventing SARS

In the face of sharply-increasing demand for medicine to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), relevant departments in Beijing have taken efforts to ensure the supply of such medicine, sources with the local government said.

Since local newspapers released the Chinese herbal prescriptions for preventing SARS on April 8, most pharmacies have been crowded with people wanting to buy this kind of medicine.

As of April 14, Beijing's pharmacies had sold about two million packages of Chinese herbal remedies, said Fang Laiying, deputy director of the local drug administration.

In some pharmacies, medicines for preventing SARS have been sold out, so the local drug administration is trying its best to help these enterprises buy raw materials from other provinces of China, said Fang.

With the help of the drug administration, Tongrentang, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine producer, has promoted a kind of liquid medicine in a bottle, for which they have daily receivedorders for 160,000 bottles.

Due to the increasing price and quality problems of medicines caused by a shortage of raw materials, the local drug administration has paid much attention to price and quality check on medicines, and established a feedback system, which can reveal the daily change in related medicine prices.

The administration has also worked with the local administration for industry and commerce to crack down on the illegal price-raising of medicine and related commodities, such asvinegar, salt and surgical masks, said Fang.

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