HEALTH Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has hinted that the ceiling price of Covid-19 self-test kits will be revised downwards.
 
He said the ministry of domestic trade and consumer affairs have discussed the possibility of reducing the prices of the kits.
 
When the test kit first hit the market, it retailed at RM39.90.
 
However, from September 5, the government capped the retail price at RM19.90 and the wholesale price at RM16.
 
“We may announce (the decision) in the near future,” Khairy said in a Press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital today.
 
“A transition period may be required to allow sellers to clear their stock. When we reduced the prices the last time, they told us that they were not given enough time to clear existing stock.
 
“The (new) ceiling price will be fair to both buyers and suppliers,” he added.
 
Several quarters including politicians and health experts have called for the prices of the test kits to be reduced further to make them more affordable.
  
The Pakatan Harapan cost of living committee had said that the price should be lowered from the current ceiling of RM19.90 to RM15 by the end of last month, then further reduced to RM10 by the end of October, and then to RM5 by the end of November. – October 7, 2021.