The Turkish Pharmacists’ Association Issues Important Mask Announcement. In response to the widespread coronavirus outbreak in our country, free mask distribution for citizens aged 20–65 will be carried out through pharmacies, according to the latest decision. Masks intended as a protective measure against coronavirus will be provided to eligible citizens at no cost. The Association has stated that people aged 20–65 must first receive a code via SMS on their mobile phones to obtain free masks; those who do not receive the SMS code are advised not to visit pharmacies.
According to Erdoğan Çolak, President of the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association, following discussions between the Ministry of Health and the Association, pharmacies were chosen to handle free mask distribution for reasons of speed and reliability.
Free Masks Available with SMS Code and National ID Number
Free masks will be available at pharmacies using a combination of an SMS code and the citizen’s Turkish national ID number. Citizens between the ages of 20 and 65 can present the code sent by the Ministry of Health to their phone along with their ID number at participating pharmacies to receive masks at no charge. Initially, each eligible person will receive five masks. The program began on Friday, April 10, 2020, in Ankara and Istanbul, and SMS codes have started going out to citizens. The rollout will be extended to other provinces in the coming days.
Supplies will be delivered to pharmacies through depots and pharmaceutical cooperatives, with deliveries scheduled as ten boxes per day. The number of masks allocated to each pharmacy will be set by the Ministry of Health based on production capacity. After allocation, SMS codes will be sent to eligible citizens so they can collect their free masks.
No Need to Visit Pharmacies Without an SMS Code
Citizens who do not receive the SMS code are not expected to visit pharmacies. Each eligible person will be sent an individual SMS code for the free mask distribution program. Only those who have received the code on their phone should apply at pharmacies. When visiting to collect masks, citizens should maintain social distancing and follow all recommended safety measures during the process.