THERE are no plans at the moment to set a new ceiling price for Covid-19 self-test kits, says the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

       “This is because there are still some 17 million kits in stock and the authorities will allow market forces to determine their prices.

       “We are concerned that if we fix the ceiling price, there will be manipulation and the self-test kits may be sold at a maximum price for profit,” Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid told Datuk Mohd Salim Sharif (BN-Jempol).

       The government had set the maximum retail price for self-test kits at RM19.90 per unit and the wholesale price at RM16 per unit effective Sept 5.

       Previously, Covid-19 self-test kits that had received conditional approval from the Medical Device Authority were sold at selected clinics and pharmacies for about RM40 each.

       Mohd Salim commended the government’s efforts in fixing the ceiling price of self-test kits at RM19.90.

       “There are self-test kits that are now being sold at RM4.90 or 87.7% lower than the ceiling price of RM39.90.

       “I hope that suppliers and importers will be able to lower the prices further as the kits are widely used by the general public,” said Rosol.

       He reminded consumers who purchase self-test kits online to buy from suppliers who display their company registration details.

       He also urged those who claimed to have been cheated to report the matter to the ministry.

       He was responding to Mohd Salim’s question on the proliferation of self-test kits being offered online.

       He said some of the self-test kits offered online were either not approved or not recognised by the ministry.