Background Antigen Test Kit Distribution
We also think it’s good that these RTK antigen test kit will be made available to consumers at such an affordable price. We agree with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister about the need for self-checkout lanes at supermarkets and petrol stations.
However, we are not so sure that making these test kit available through the normal retail channels is a practical move. It’s true that RTK antigen test kit are now readily available and it’s convenient to get tested, but we cannot simply opt for convenience at the expense of safety or quality.
Example
Take face mask example, they’re made available at pharmacies which are available in every township, suburb and residential area. Everyone was selling them. Some of these face masks did not meet the medical standard and did not fulfil their purpose of protection against the virus. There were even reports of cases where face masks were produced by using recycled face masks. During the recent Covid-19 outbreak, there was a huge increase in demand for face masks.
This was true, especially among the general public. However, some of these face masks were not approved by the relevant health authorities and thus they did not fulfil their purpose of protecting the wearers from the disease.
By analogy, if self-test kit are made available easily at multiple outlets, the counterfeit or unapproved kit may also arise. Even now we hear cases of RTK antigen test kit sold online that give inaccurate results.
As long as Covid-19 exists, this may lead to the possibility of a black market with no quality control. We don’t agree for something as important as these RTK antigen test kit to be the subject matter of scams, putting people at risk with a false sense of security. For example the United Kingdom and India had made RTK antigen test kit available only at pharmacies and certified bodies. The government needs to set its priorities right. Prioritise the safety of the people.
I don’t think we should risk to the possibilities of compromising the quality of Malaysian approved medical devices by allowing RTK Antigen Test Kit to be simply being managed and sold in convenient stores.
MR. LEONG SIN WEI (DIRECTOR, CLA MEDICAL)
Shouldn’t healthcare issues be under the Health Ministry?
This is especially when Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had announced last month that pharmacies were the best place to buy Covid-19 RTK antigen test kit. Why was this announced by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry? We strongly think this sort of contradiction between the two ministries may create problems, putting the public at risk.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has also urged the Health Ministry to ensure the responsible sale of the Covid-19 RTK antigen test kit by sticking to its original policy of only allowing healthcare facilities and pharmacies to sell the kit.
“While the aim is to encourage the use of self-test kit to test for Covid-19, we should be mindful that the RTK antigen test kit are medical devices and therefore it is imperative that the sale of such items be controlled and strictly regulated.
As the advocate and enabler for better C-19 Test Integrity, we stand strongly together with the pharmacies and clinics believed that they are trained and regulated to handle medical devices professionally. We are in total support of making RTK antigen Test Kit widely available for everyone, but to the extend where the quality of distribution has to be managed. It’s a medical device after all.
