The entity called to focus on digital platforms and investigate under criminal charges any irregularities in the manufacture and marketing, both wholesale and retail, of drugs, rapid antigen tests, oxygen generators, and other health products.

It also insisted on neutralizing operations of criminal networks engaged in serial and trans-regional smuggling, as well as protecting human life and ensuring a safe environment ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday later this month.

Since last December, China has experienced an explosion of daily cases and deaths from Covid-19, but at the same time there is a shortage of medicines and other products used to treat the symptoms of the disease due to high demand.

Although the pharmaceutical companies have intensified the work in their plants, the supply of these materials has not yet been fully stabilized and some individuals and companies are taking advantage to counterfeit products and increase prices indiscriminately.

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