ALLOWING Covid-19 self-test kits to be sold in grocery stores is a bad idea as the use of the device needs to be properly explained to consumers, Malaysian Pharmacists Society said.

In disagreeing with the health minister’s call for the kits to be sold in grocery stores, society president Amhari Buang said these kits are controlled medical devices and users must be taught how to use them.

Making the device too freely available in the open market could end up defeating the purpose of having more people test themselves if they misuse it, Amhari told The Malaysian Insight.

“This test kit is a medical device. One needs to be told how to properly use the device upon purchasing it,” he said.

“Pharmacists are able to give a proper explanation on how to use it as they would have been taught the method, so that results obtained can be accurate.

“If you allow grocery stores to sell the device, how can the cashier explain to you the correct way to use the kit. This device is not a toy.”

He said as medical devices, Covid-19 self-test kits are subject to laws such as the Medical Device Act 2012.

On Saturday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that the sale of Covid-19 self-test kits will be relaxed so that consumers can buy them from grocery stores instead of pharmacies and healthcare facilities only.

“Once they are available in the market, authorised sellers must ensure responsible sale of the self-test kits. For example, the self-test kits cannot be sold if the packaging has been tampered with or opened as this will contaminate the kits and, therefore, cannot be used,” Khairy said.

He also said that making self-test kits more widely available is part of living with Covid-19, with the country moving into the endemic stage by the end of next month, or when more than 80% of the country’s population are fully vaccinated.

Amhari said there is a high possibility of one getting a wrong result if the self-test kit is not used correctly.

“What would happen if they got the wrong result because they do not know how to use the device? Doesn’t this defeat the objective? Politicians must not treat this pandemic as brownie points for their political careers,” he said.

“You want to be seen as understanding the plight of the people, but in reality, you are not doing things the way it should be.“

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has also voiced its disapproval of the move to sell the test kits in grocery stores.

In a statement on Monday, MMA president Prof Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said the Covid-19 test kits are medical devices that should be controlled and strictly regulated.

“If the self-test kits are sold in grocery stores, there may not be proper handling of the product. It will also be more difficult for the authorities to monitor and regulate,” he said.

As part of making the test kits more widely available, Khairy has also said the retail price per kit would be capped.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi then announced that retailers have a week from September 5 to comply with the maximum price of RM19.90 for the Covid-19 antigen rapid test kit.

Previously, the retail price per unit was up to RM40 each.

Checks on pharmacies in Shah Alam since the announcement found retailers complying with the price cap.

A pharmacy owner in Section U13, Shah Alam, said they have complied with the directive after it was announced by the minister.

“Before the announcement, it was more than RM30, but now with the ceiling price, it is RM19.90. We explain to our customers on how to use it and to contact the health authorities if they show symptoms of the virus,” said pharmacist Farah Hakim.

“I do agree that this test kit should only be sold by pharmacists and not in grocery stores.”

Another pharmacy in the same district is selling the test kit for RM16.90.

An employee said all test kits at the store are sold at the same price.

“There are different brands, but the price is the same. Customers should buy the test kits from pharmacies so that they know how to use them. It is not that complicated, but at least we can tell them the proper way to use them,” said the pharmacist at the drug store. – September 9, 2021.