After months of teasing of a lower ceiling price for the COVID-19 self-test kits, the government has decided that they will not make any changes. Instead, it is entrusting the free market with determining the cost of the kits.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Minister Rosol Wahid said the ministry no longer needs to set a ceiling or floor price, as manufacturers gave their commitment to the government that the self-test kit prices will be reduced by the end of October.
Rosol claimed that the government initially planned to cap the price of the RTK-Ag kits to between RM13 and RM15, but decided against it after manufacturers promised to lower the price. “Many of the players came forward and advocated a cheaper retail price of below RM10. We are confident this promise will be fulfilled by the end of the month,” said the minister.
On another note, he also mentioned that the test kits will be more widely available for purchase by next month, in premises such as in malls, chain stores, and petrol stations.
The COVID-19 self-test kits are currently sold at a ceiling price of RM19.90 for consumers and RM16 per piece for wholesale. Earlier this month, KPDNHEP promised to set a lower cap for the kits by the end of October, after failing to fulfil an earlier promise for the same thing to be done by the end of September.
(Source: The Vibes)
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