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| Cutthroat retailers cash in on SARS panic |
| CCTV.COM 2003-04-28 09:04:23 |
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The Chinese government has adopted a series of measures to control the prices of SARS preventative medicines and facilities. It has also strengthened laws to control fake goods related to the SARS crisis. The policies follow the worsening SARS situation in China. Many retailers across the nation began to hike prices prompting public outrage. The new measures aim to stabilize society and reduce the scare for SARS among the citizens.
This is one of the wholesale markets in central China's Hunan Province. After the Chinese government released medical prescriptions which said to be effective in preventing SARS virus, prices of these herbal medicines have soared.
A retailer from Hunan Province said: "We are already short of medicine, honeysuckle sells 100 yuan per kilogram, only half of the price elsewhere." In the past, Honeysuckle was sold at only about 20 yuan per kilogram, only one fifth of the current price.
The retailers are very sensitive about the camera. This owner first lied to us that Honeysuckle could be bought at 30 yuan per kilogram in her retail store. Then she refused to sell us any.
She is one of many wholesalers throughout China trying to cash in on the SARS crisis which has caused widespread panic. Many have raised the prices on many types of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs without government approval. The price of masks and disinfectants have also been increased illegally.
At one grocery store in eastern China's Anhui Province, one consumer complained that the price of one particular disinfectant was more than doubled overnight.
A customer from Anhui Province said: "Yesterday it was only three yuan per bottle, but today it costs seven yaun." Though raising prices illegally is morally corrupt, selling fake anti－SARS products could threaten lives.
Just a few days ago, staff from the Price Control Bureau in Taiyuan city in northern China's Shanxi province seized large numbers of poor quality masks. Some did not have any disinfection processing while others had waste cotton and fiber inside. Many of these inferior useless masks had already been sold in Shanxi, one of the worst SARS hit areas in the country.
The newly formed State Development Reform Commission began to take tough measures to control illegal price hikes and false goods. It is launching a nation－wide campaign to supervise the quality of goods and prices. They have ordered that the profit rate of masks should be under five percent.
Although some customers complain that it's still difficult to buy medical facilities, like disinfectants and masks, the Chinese government has assured customers of sufficient daily supply.
Ma Liqiang, director of State Development and Reform Commission, said: "We have sufficient medical storage at all government levels. Local governments can use them when it sees fit. The central government can also relocate these materials among different provinces and cities."
Getting the economy on track amidst the SARS epidemic is one of the many challenges facing China's new leadership, who took office less than two months ago. A successful handling of the crisis is considered important to demonstrate that China's crisis management capabilities come up to international standards.
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Editor: Zhao Xuan CCTV.com
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