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The Competition Tribunal said that the second excessive pricing case in the context of COVID-19 will be heard on Monday.
This matter was referred to the Tribunal by the Competition Commission on an urgent basis and the hearing would be held online.
“In this matter, the Commission accuses Dis-chem Pharmacies Limited (Dis-chem) of abusing its dominance and charging excessive prices for surgical masks to the detriment of customers and consumers,” the Tribunal said in a statement on Sunday.
However, the Tribunal said that Dis-chem denies the Commission’s claims.
It said the company argued, among others, that no contravention can be sustained against it and contends that the referral should be dismissed.
In an earlier statement, the Competition Commission said that from at least 28 March it has received several complaints from the public against Dis-Chem stores for high prices for masks.
It said that prior to the declaration of a national state of disaster, Dis-Chem was selling three types of masks at far lower prices.
