KUALA BERANG: Covid-19 self-test kits will be more affordable when they are sold at other business premises such as supermarkets and convenience stores by end of this month.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said the new price of the self-test kits is expected to be announced soon, for the upcoming school session on Oct 3.
The new price of self-test kits, said Rosol, will enable more parents especially those with large number of family members to get access to the device.
"We have carried out discussions with industry players as well as pharmacy companies. The outcome has been positive, in which they agreed to reduce the price at a much lower price for self-test kits.
"The price for the self-test kits will not only enable more people to get the device but also reduce people's financial burden, as the current price of the item is now set at RM19.90.
"Furthermore, the sale of the self-test kits will not be limited to healthcare premises such as pharmacies and clinics, but also available at other types of premises such as supermarkets, mini markets and convenience shops according to the requirement fixed by the government," he told reporters when visiting the vaccination centre (PPV) at Kampung Sungai Berua here today.
Earlier, Rosol, who is the Hulu Terengganu member of Parliament, inspected the vaccination drive at the PPV involving 327 people from the Orang Asli community at the village.
Rosol said the current selling price of the Covid-19 self-test kits was still not affordable especially to people with large families.
"When the price is Rm19.90, parents with five children would have to spend almost RM100 to buy them and this is a burden to them.
"As such, the new price of the self-test kits, which will be announced soon, will make it less burdensome. Although the new price is not yet finalised, we assure that it is will affordable and that it will not be a burden," he said.