Bring down price of Covid-19 test kits, govt told

 

The cost of the test kit set, at RM40, is too high for the B40 and even M40, says Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.

PETALING JAYA: The price of Covid-19 self-test kits must be made affordable for all in the fight against Covid-19 and also as people learn to live with the virus, says Dr Kelvin Yii.

The Bandar Kuching MP said the domestic, trade and consumer affairs ministry must look into subsiding the cost as this was important in making the public accept self-test kits as part of the “new normal”, especially when reopening the economy safely and sustainably.

Yii said the kit was an “important arm” for a systematic and comprehensive FFTIS+V (finding, testing, tracing, isolating and supporting along with vaccinating) strategy in managing the pandemic.

“The current retail price of RM39.90 each is not affordable for the B40 and even M40s, especially if there are many members of the family who need to be screened frequently,” he said in a statement.

He suggested that the government consider regulating the test kits to ensure its effectiveness and accelerate approvals of kits that meet the necessary requirements.

This would encourage competition in the market and drive down prices, especially when demand increases.

“From there, the government can look at subsidising it to make it cost even below RM10 as we cultivate a culture of self testing,” he said.

Yii said Putrajaya should also incorporate this into its PekaB40 initiative so self-test kits were covered for the B40 group.

He said the future was not about living with perpetual lockdowns, but with adopting measures to mitigate or minimise the presence and impact of Covid-19.

“This is the ‘new normal’ that we need to transition into and the government must provide a conducive environment for that to happen.” - FMT