KUALA LUMPUR – True to the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has vowed to take up an opposition MP’s proposal to give rebates to those who report their Covid-19 self-test results.
This will encourage individuals who have undergone self-tests to report to the government via MySejahtera, he said during his ministry’s winding-up speech on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“I really like the proposal to give rebates to those who inform (the government) of their (test) results. That is the only way we can get higher self-reporting. Thank you for the suggestion.”
Earlier, Dr Kelvin Yii (Bandar Kuching-PH) pointed out that many people who test negative do not report their results.
He proposed that Putrajaya incentivise self-reporting by offering a subsidy or rebate for the public’s purchase of self-test kits.
Khairy acknowledged the seriousness of the issue at hand, noting that under-reporting negative test results may lead to a higher Covid-19 infectivity rate.
We found that those who self-tested and got a positive result have a higher tendency of reporting their results. When they are negative, they tend not to, and that is why we have an issue with our denominator on the infectivity rate.
“Take September 21, for example. The infectivity rate, including self-testing, stood at 9.95%. But we don’t know the true denominator because we are uncertain how many actually conducted self-testing.”
He added that the government is considering further bringing down the ceiling price of self-test kits, and expanding their sale to premises other than pharmacies.
He said he discussed the matter with Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi on Tuesday.
“The discussion was to review the possibility of further lowering the price, and to expand the kits’ sale to premises like convenience stores and supermarkets, seeing that the kits are considered part of our new normal.”
Nanta has said the current RM19.90 ceiling price for self-test kits is fair and a win-win situation for manufacturers and consumers, adding that he sees no reason for the government to subsidise the products. – The Vibes, September 23, 2021
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