Self-test kit price cap: Pharmacists say too steep, others say not enough

 

The government’s decision to cap retail prices for Covid-19 self-test kits at RM19.90 has had a mixed reaction.

According to the Malaysian Pharmacists’ Society (MPS), the price cap is too steep and too sudden, while others have said that the price cap should be even lower.

In a statement yesterday, MPS said community pharmacists had paid between RM22 and RM32 per kit when purchasing from suppliers.

Hence, they said the government should either subsidise costs for community pharmacists, demand that suppliers give the pharmacists rebates, or allow them to return stock that was purchased at higher prices.

They also said it was untrue that they were consulted prior to the government setting a price cap.

MPS had previously been in support of price caps, but that it must be fair to community pharmacies.

Besides capping retail prices, the government had also capped wholesale prices for Covid-19 self-test kits to RM16.

The price capping is effective Sept 5.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Malaysian Consumers’ Association (Fomca) said the current price cap was still too expensive.

Its president Marimuthu Nadason said the price should instead be capped at RM9.90 so that it is more affordable to others.

“We want (the price capped at) RM9.90 because it is expected to be widely used especially by the poor, low-income earners, factory workers, construction workers, and migrant workers.

“We can imagine their financial situation. These people can’t afford it, because they don’t just have to buy self-test kits, but also have to buy masks and sanitisers.

“The situation is such that people are using the same mask multiple times,” Marimuthu was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian today.

On social media, the price of self-test kits had been compared to those in other countries such as Germany, where the price had dropped to 0.80 euros, or the UK where self-test kits can be acquired for free from the government. - Mkini