KUALA LUMPUR – The government is looking into lowering the ceiling prices for Covid-19 self-test kits by the end of the year.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said that the initiative will be headed by the Health Ministry and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
Currently, the retail price of self-test kits is capped at RM19.90.
“To expand testing efforts, the Health Ministry has recognised the RTK-Ag test and approved several Covid-19 self-test kits that can be bought in pharmacies nationwide.
“Moreover, in making self-test kits accessible to everyone, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Health Ministry have set the price ceiling for these kits below RM20.
“Both ministries are looking at further revising down the prices by the end of this year,” Zafrul said in his National Recovery Summit keynote address today.
Given Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s statement last week concerning Malaysia preparing to enter into the endemic phase of the virus, Zafrul said the National Recovery Plan (NRP) will update itself accordingly.
“Moving forward, the government will progressively update the NRP to prepare Malaysia for the next normal of living with Covid-19 as an endemic disease,” he added.
In recognition of the public healthcare system in ensuring the economy recovers, he said the sector will be placed on stronger footing through the NRP and Budget 2022.
Among the measures to be implemented includes the establishment of a dedicated call centre offering immediate assistance in managing Covid-19, implementing measures to manage long Covid-19 symptoms, and factoring booster shots into public health protocols.
On September 2, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry announced the ceiling price for Covid-19 self-test kits.
Medical device retail prices cannot exceed RM20 while wholesale prices are capped at RM16. – The Vibes, September 9, 2021
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