In the first phase, the working groups will focus on preventive work in pharmacies, as well as on gathering data on inflated prices of essential drugs used to treat COVID-19 (approximately 40 types), the Agency reported.

They will also examine the stocks of medicines in wholesale and pharmacy warehouses required to meet full demand in the coming months.

Those who deliberately increase prices, as well as those who purchase and sell them in circumvention of tax laws, will be brought to liability and will be charged under criminal or administrative laws.

It is noted that the Agency is in the process of establishing the actual basic cost of essential drugs used for CcOVID-19 treatment, and calculates maximum retail prices in order to prevent unfair pricing in pharmacies and to raise public awareness.