Massive use of Ffp2 masks. This is what is expected up to the end of the state of emergency (31 March 2022) in light of the decree law that came into force at Christmas which provided for it to be mandatory in all color areas (including white) on all means of transport. transportation as well as for indoor or outdoor performances in theaters, cinemas, concert halls, entertainment venues and live music, as well as stadiums and sports facilities.
For this reason, the latest anti-Covid decree published in the Official Gazette of December 30 provides for the development of an agreement to set a controlled price for this type of more protective but more expensive masks. Just as it was done for the surgical ones. The extraordinary Commissioner – reads the text of the decree – «considering the average prices charged to pharmacies and retailers, defines, in agreement with the Minister of Health, a memorandum of understanding with the most representative category associations of the same pharmacies and of the other authorized resellers in order to ensure, until 31 March 2022 and without additional charges for public finance, the sale of respiratory protection devices of the Ffp2 type at low prices “.
It is up to the Government to monitor “through reports from the Commissioner, the price trend of the Ffp2 masks”.
Current costs
The current costs of the Ffp2 masks are very varied. “It depends on the fact that the pharmacy can buy them directly from the manufacturer, from the wholesaler or from the intermediate distributor”, explains Roberto Tobia, national secretary of Federfarma. In general, the Ffp2 have a higher price than surgical masks, on average between 0.80 cents and 2.5 euros.
Target price controlled to no more than 1 euro
For the Ffp2 masks “I believe that the goal of not exceeding the cost of 1 euro is absolutely within reach”, declared the Undersecretary of Health Andrea Costa