Self Test Kit Shortage Only Temporary Says Minister

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Various retail outlets are reportedly running low of self-test kits or have run out of stock altogether. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: The shortage of RTK-Antigen (RTK-Ag) self-test kits is only temporary as manufacturers are doing their best to meet demand, domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said today.
He said the demand was high as more people were out and about and wanted to stock up to be vigilant as well as in an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“The shortage is only temporary as people are taking the necessary precautions by testing themselves and their families daily, based on their daily activities,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Nanta was responding to reported claims of various retail outlets running low or not having any stock of the self-test kits.

Charles Santiago (PH-Klang) asked if the government could subsidise the price of RTK-Ag self-test kits for the poor, to which Nanta said the idea would be forwarded to the Cabinet as it involves the Treasury.
Nanta said the prices of self-test kits were already low and primarily market-driven, despite it being a price-controlled item with a ceiling of RM10 per piece.
Santiago also asked if the government planned to standardise the price of face masks, to which Nanta said only three-ply face masks were under price control.
Nanta said three-ply masks, not others, had a 70 sen ceiling price as it was the recommended face mask by the health ministry.
He said his ministry could not control prices of other types of masks, such as four-ply or more, as it exceeded the health ministry’s recommendations. - FMT

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