However, everything is not smooth sailing for them as supply of medicines is not as smooth as in the normal days. A pharmacy owner, who did not want to be named nor the name of his shop disclosed, revealed that some distributors have been hiding essential medicines at present. "Also, the flow of customers has dropped significantly as movement has been curtailed due to the restriction on vehicles," he said. He also informed that the price of a box of face masks which used to cost Rs 200 last year has now risen to Rs 300 in wholesale.
Meanwhile, Buddha Man Singh, who owns Bukrini Pharmacy in Dillibazaar, said that there is enough stock of medicines at the moment. "However, I have noticed that some of my regular customers are buying more medicines than they used to in the past and I often urge them not to do so," he adds.
"People do not need to worry about the availability of the common drugs as there is plenty in stock," said Birendra Kumar Chaudhary, proprietor of Imo Pharmacy in Sinamangal. But if the restrictions continue for a longer period of time then the government needs to make sure that supply is continued.
All the three pharmacy owners mentioned that most people visit their shops to buy masks and sanitisers which are essential to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. According to them, sales of paracetamol, cough syrups and vitamins have also increased since the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19 in the country.
