Overpriced face masks: Private hospital fined RM200k

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): A private hospital has been imposed a compound of RM200,000 for selling three-ply face masks higher than the ceiling price, says the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

In a statement Thursday (May 22), it said the hospital was compounded for committing an offence under Section 11 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

The hospital will be charged in court if it fails to pay the compound within the stipulated time, the ministry said.

On May 13, the ministry conducted an inspection at the hospital following a viral story of a patient in a private hospital who was allegedly charged RM201.60 for 18 pieces of three-ply face masks used by the nurses.

The amount equals to RM11.20 a piece, while the ceiling price for the face mask set by the government is RM1.50 per piece.

Also seized from the hospital were several documents, including the three-ply face masks of the same type for further investigations.

"The ministry is serious in ensuring that the supply of face masks is

readily available at a price not exceeding the ceiling price, ” it added. - Bernama