KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the Health Ministry to revert to its original decision to only allow healthcare facilities and pharmacies to sell Covid-19 self-test kits.
Its president Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said that the self-test kits are medical devices that must be controlled and strictly regulated.
“The Covid-19 self-test kits go through stringent checks by the Medical Devices Authority before they are approved for use. Authorised sellers must also be responsible for the sales of the self-test kits.
“For example, the self-test kits cannot be sold if the packaging has been tampered with or opened as this will contaminate the kits, therefore results will be inaccurate.
“Authorised sellers and pharmacists need to be properly trained to guide consumers when more information on using the kits is required,” he said in a statement today.
He was referring to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s statement yesterday to approve more self-test kits and expand the types of premises allowed to sell these kits by imposing conditions related to controls on the sale of the said items.
Subramaniam said that the MMA is deeply concerned that this decision may lead to the widespread commercialisation of self-test kits and other issues such as fake, pirated, contaminated, or even recycled kits being sold to consumers.
“If the self-test kits are sold in grocery stores (for example), there may not be proper handling of the products. It will also be more difficult for the authorities to monitor and regulate.
“We urge the Health Ministry to revert to its original policy of only allowing healthcare facilities and pharmacies to sell the self-test kits, to ensure responsible sale of these medical devices.
“After all, there are more than 10,000 pharmacies and healthcare facilities nationwide that are already easily accessible to the community,” he said.
As for Khairy’s plan to provide self-test kits for free to the B40 and other vulnerable groups, the MMA suggested that the government look into pooled procurement of the kits.
“These kits can then be given free to the B40 groups or be partly subsidised for all through a special programme,” he added.
Earlier, The Vibes also reported that consumers must dispose of self-test kits properly instead of simply dumping them in a rubbish bin, or risk more infections once the coronavirus contaminates others who come in contact with the rubbish. – The Vibes, September 5, 2021
