TWO DAP lawmakers are calling on the government to further lower the price of the Covid-19 self-test kits, as the new ceiling price of RM19.90 per unit is still unaffordable for many.

Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran and Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng welcomed the move to cap the price, which currently ranges from RM28 to RM40 per unit, but said the new price was still costly for low-income earners.

Rajiv said that in order to make testing more accessible, the government should further reduce the price to RM10 per unit or lower.

“The intention to make testing accessible by setting a ceiling price by the government to sell the test kit is welcomed, as it is better than doing nothing.

“However, RM19.90 is still a high price to pay when you are a low-income family and especially when you are in a large family.

“The government should aim to ensure that Covid-19 saliva test kits are available for RM10 or less,” he said in a statement today. 

Yesterday, the government announced new ceiling prices for wholesale and retail of self-test kits, effective Sunday.

The wholesale price will be fixed at RM16, while the kits will retail for RM19.90.

Rajiv suggested the government purchase self-test kits in bulk from the manufacturers so as to reduce the selling price.

The government could even distribute the test kits for free, as done by the UK’s National Health Service, he added.

“The pharmacies also don’t have to lose out in terms of profit because the government can choose to distribute or sell these test kits via pharmacies instead of creating a separate machinery. 

“The government should do an open tender for these purchases. Ordering in millions will also mean many manufacturers would jump at this opportunity to participate and this competition will drive the price down,” Rajiv added.

Meanwhile, Lim said the new price cap might not be expensive for individuals in the T20 and M40 groups, but it is still a hefty amount for those in the B40 group.

Lim agreed with Rajiv that the government should subsidise these kits and give them out for free, following in the United Kingdom’s footsteps.

These kinds of measures are needed as the country eases movement restrictions, Lim said.

“I believe the government has the full capacity and capability to subsidise these test kits. 

“If the government can buy vaccines for everyone in Malaysia, we can also do the same thing for these test kits. 

“For instance, the British government has provided twice weekly free test kits for those who reside in the country. This initiative is seen as a proactive measure for them as lockdown measures are easing up. 

“With a lot of sectors opening up slowly in Malaysia, the government should definitely emulate a similar initiative to ensure that our citizens can do regular Covid-19 testings,” Lim said. 

On Wednesday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the ministry is looking at a national testing policy as Covid-19 becomes endemic in the country.

This will mean that self-testing for Covid-19 will become a norm.

Khairy also said that regular testing will be applicable to those who choose not to be vaccinated. – September 3, 2021.