Lower ceiling price for self-test kits to be announced next week: Minister
The government will reduce the retail ceiling price of Covid-19 self-test kits nationwide from RM19.90.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the announcement of the new ceiling price will be made in a week.
“I will issue a press statement. The price was decided based on...
The government will reduce the retail ceiling price of Covid-19 self-test kits nationwide from RM19.90.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the announcement of the new ceiling price will be made in a week.
“I will issue a press statement. The price was decided based on studies conducted,” he said during a press conference in the aftermath of the Budget 2022 presentation at Parliament today.
Alexander said his ministry has involved many parties, including the Health Ministry to deliberate on the ceiling price.
His ministry has also granted approval for over 2,500 premises to sell Covid-19 self-test kits, he added.
Previously, only pharmacies and clinics were allowed to sell the test kits.
“Anyone who still wishes to sell the devices can still apply with us, and we will grant them approval as long as the conditions are met,” he said.
Alexander noted that letting more premises sell the test kits will allow people to have easier access to the devices.
Competition will further reduce price
He said with more manufacturers importing their self-test kits into Malaysia, the competition will drive the prices down even further than the ceiling price that the ministry targets.
“That’s why I’d like to wait for one more week before I make the announcement, so I can observe whether retailers are already selling the test kits at prices lower than what we intended.
“We don’t want to put a price where we consider it reasonable but retailers are selling them at much lower prices, then take advantage of the higher ceiling price and raise it,” he added.
The announcement of the reduced ceiling price for the self-test kits next week will come earlier than the government previously promised.
Last month, the government announced that the retail price of Covid-19 self-test kits was capped at RM19.90, while the wholesale purchase was capped at RM16.
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