One thing many of us have been anticipating is the lowering of the price of COVID-19 antigen self-test kits. Certain retail outlets have recently been reported to sell the kits for as low as RM6.90, though the new price ceiling is yet to be discussed by the government this month.
At the moment, the official retail price ceiling remains at RM19.90 per unit and RM16 for wholesale purchase.
The price drop is mainly due to the government’s effort to boost the accessibility of test kits to the public via distribution to supermarkets, petrol stations as well as convenience stores. Previously, the kits were mainly sold at selected pharmacies and clinics.
According to the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, the decision to allow the sale of test kits to more business premises is to ensure that the prices can be retained and kept lower than RM10.
This is also a part of the government’s call to encourage Malaysians to take precautionary measures by conducting self-tests regularly as the country shifts into the endemic phase.
Some 2,570 premises in the country have received the green light for the sale of self-test kits approved by the Medical Device Authority (MDA).
With that said, there are currently 54 brands of MDA-approved COVID-19 self-test kits available in the market.
Gisele Soo
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