BOBRUISK, 21 April (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed to launch the export of face masks after the domestic market is saturated as he visited the Slavyanka company in Bobruisk on 21 April, BelTA has learned.
“Judging by Mogilev Oblast we have saturated the market with masks. There is no shortage," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. "But let's be frank. Outside our country the demand is great, isn't? We need to sell and thus compensate for the expenses we incurred by purchasing masks all over the world,” the president noted.
Mogilev Oblast Governor Leonid Zayats informed that 20,000 masks are sold and about 470,000 masks made in the region every day. “We need to sell if there is the demand. Russians, Latvians have inquired about the masks. Why not to sell? We need to help people," the president stressed. "Everyone sells masks. This is an important commodity. Look at the People's Republic of China. I think they have already sold a billion masks. Thais is why we need to produce and sell,” he added.
The head of state once again inquired whether the needs of medical institutions and pharmacies in personal protective equipment are met in the region and in the country. He was assured that there are no problems with this. If these products are not available in some places, then these are isolated cases and the issues issues are settled quickly. More than 2 million masks are made in Belarus every day. Big companies and small-sized business, education and social institutions have joined in the effort to produce face masks in the country. This work has been organized almost from scratch. Several months ago the daily production was only 60,000 face masks.
The president urged to address the issues with the shortage of face masks or high prices in any of the pharmacies immediately. “Such pharmacies must be closed. I have warned everyone that no speculative activity will be tolerated. Please, address such issues in regions on your own. No need to apply for the Healthcare Ministry. The Healthcare Ministry needs to treat patients,” he said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also warned against excessive stockpiling. “We need the stocks, but there is no need for excessive stockpiling,” the head of state said. He added that the production of traditional goods, for example, of clothes if we take Slavyanka for example, needs to be continued. “We cannot make face masks today and import shirts tomorrow. This will not work. We need a flexible strategy,” the president said.
As BelTA reported earlier, the Belarusian government temporarily banned the export of some medical products on 17 March. The list included disposable overalls and hazmat suits, respirators, surgical gowns, masks, shoe wrappers, bandages, cotton wool, gauze, and various kinds of medical gloves. The prohibition also applied to sets of clothes for medics, respiratory gear, and some other products. These goods could not be transported out of the country regardless of their country of destination.
Photos by Maksim Guchek
