Govt may reduce price of Covid-19 self-test kits before December

 

From Oct 1, the self-test kits would not only be available at pharmacies and clinics, but also at supermarkets and convenience shops. (Bernama pic)

KUALA TERENGGANU: The government is considering a new controlled price for the Covid-19 self-test kits sooner than December, as previously announced, deputy minister of domestic trade and consumer affairs Rosol Wahid said.

He said discussions on the matter involving various stakeholders were currently underway.

Rosol added that the reopening of the economic, tourism and education sectors in stages and relaxations of the SOPs set under the national recovery plan would make the Covid-19 self-test kits an essential item that would be part of the new normal.

“Therefore, the government is always concerned in ensuring that consumers can get the kit at a better price for the sake of business continuity among the various industry players,” he said in a statement today.

Deputy minister of domestic trade and consumer affairs Rosol Wahid.

On the enforcement of the Covid-19 self-test kit price controls which came into effect on Sept 5, Rosol said of the 3,106 premises checked, 348 of them were found selling the kits below RM19.90 per unit and RM16 each for wholesale, while 2,554 sold it at prices set by the government.

“The ministry welcomes the initiative taken by the industry players in helping to reduce the burden of the people by offering the kits at a lower price,” he said.

Rosol also said beginning October, the self-test kits would not only be available at pharmacies and clinics, but also at other types of premises, such as supermarkets and convenience shops.

“However, the ministry must first ensure that these premises have sufficient information on the conditions for the sale of the Covid-19 self-test kits. This includes complying with the product labelling requirements and handling methods to help the public who purchase these kits,” he said. - FMT