By Jubin Katiraie
- Despite the huge outbreak of coronavirus in Iran, many of disinfectant items are scarce or sold at several times the cost
- Officials claim they are doing their best, however, signals reject
- Face masks, disinfectant fluid, gloves, and other recommended items are scarce in Tehran
- However, the government provided special kits for officials like the government-linked ayatollahs and MPs
The outbreak of coronavirus in Tehran has greatly affected pharmacies and ordinary people are recommended to use several devices for prevention. However, many of the recommended items like filtering face masks, disinfectants, medical gloves, and alcohol have been scarce in the Iranian capital. In this respect, a government-linked journalist had a visit from eight Pharmacies across the city and reported what he saw in the state-run website namehnews.com.
Publication of this report by a state-run media shows the depth of the government’s incompetence in confronting the virus. Notably, the report has been published while highest officials such as President Hassan Rouhani, the minister of health and medical education Saeed Namaki acknowledged that they are doing their best for “defeating coronavirus!”
However, it is unclear how they make their best effort while most people are deprived of the necessary items for restricting the deadly virus? Furthermore, popular reports and photos provided on social media display that the government provided special kits for the ayatollahs, members of the parliament [Majles], while many ordinary citizens struggle to be alive. Authorities also transferred many mullahs to safe and disinfectant places, which put the health of local residents of those areas such as Zahedan, southeastern Iran, at risk.
It is worth reminding you that namehnews.com notified that these reports will continue!
- Pharmacy in Ferdowsi Square
– Good day, I need face masks!
+ We don’t have any.
– Any kind? Even normal masks?
+ No!
– What about disinfectant fluid?
+ We have nothing!
– Do you have even Dettol for toilets?
+ We have nothing. I think that I must type these answers and install them on the door. I’ve been tired of answering!
- Pharmacy in Vali Asr intersection
– Hello, do you have face masks?
+ We don’t have filtering masks but maybe can provide normal masks later this evening. Return and check in the evening.
– What about disinfectant fluid?
+ [Officials] give us nothing to sell you.
– What about the alcoholic pads that used for injections?
+ There is really nothing.
- Pharmacy in Enghelab [Revolution] Square
– Hello, do you have filtering face masks?
+ No, but we have normal ones.
– What else do you have?
+ Everything, all these cotton, vegetables disinfectant, industrial alcohol, one-time use gloves, and wet napkins.
– These are not too usable, for instance, what is the function of cotton?
+ You should soak it in alcohol and disinfectant your items.
– Kleenex, of course, has such a function. The people think what they should spend their money on these cotton. [both sides laugh], anyway, how much for the alcohol?
+ 15 [thousands of tomans]
– Wow, until the past week, we used to buy alcohol for cooking for 5,000 tomans.
+ [Smile] Would you like to purchase or inspect? Go, tell [officials] that first sell us [the items] then send inspectors.
- Pharmacy in Roudaki Street
– Hello, do you have hand disinfectant fluid?
+ No, sorry.
– What about gel or face masks?
+ No, a pharmacy in Azarbaijan Street may have. Check there!
- Pharmacy in Azadi Street located near Azarbaijan Street [the queue extended to outside the pharmacy]
– I need filtering face masks!
+ We don’t have them.
– What else do you have?
+ We have only industrial alcohol and we sell one per person. We have also small alcoholic pads and we cannot sell more than five pads to anyone. There are also wet napkins.
- Pharmacy in Jamalzadeh Street
– Good morning, do you have gel or disinfectant fluid for items?
+ No, but we have industrial alcohol.
– What about face masks?
+ We don’t have.
– Therefore, where are these face masks distributed?
+ [Officials] told us they won’t offer them to pharmacies anymore.
- Pharmacy in Behboudi Street
– Hello, I need face masks, gloves, and hand disinfectant fluid.
+ We have only gloves.
– Oh my God, what a messy situation! Since this morning, I went to several pharmacies but none of them had anything.
+ You are right; however, we are not the culprit. We also heard this complaint many times by everyone, but [officials] don’t give us the items to offer to you.
- Pharmacy in Azadi Square
– Give me a hand disinfectant fluid, please!
+ We don’t have.
– What about face masks?
+ We have nothing relevant to this coronavirus.
Read More:
Report on the Status of the Coronavirus in Iran From Different Perspectives by the People
