Jonathan Fairfield Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce has issued an assurance that it is ready to oversee the price of Antigen Test Kits for COVID-19, but is awaiting a Ministry of Public Health decision on whether or not they need to be price-controlled. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit, stated that the Ministry of Public Health must decide on the pricing of COVID-19 at-home tests, as there is currently a choice of kits of varying quality. All available options must be reviewed to avoid an impact on users as well as unnecessarily blocking imports. Currently, only one company is able to undertake the tests in Thailand. The minister mentioned nonetheless, that if price controls need to to be instigated, his office is ready to act. The DPM noted that while the Ministry of Public Health has given its approval to the use of Antigen Test Kits, such tools are still pending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration. The Commerce Ministry is to recommend the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) spearhead the importation of the test kits, so as to set a reference point for prices, while the National Health Security Office (NHSO) distributes the tests free of charge to speed up their dispersal. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-07-18 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThailandRyan Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Yes, control it and make it free if you want people to use them as desired. If not then YMMV Government. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanaplaza666 Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 They promise to controle the pricing but first they have to ask mr A , so my geuss is it will be controled 1000% but with a bit of commition on the price for mr A's wallet . What's your geuss ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Approximate... Numbers seen: 300 to 500 Baht? (7.80 to 13 Euro). Prices in German drugstores 0.70 to 1 Euro. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojothai Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 (edited) My guess is that they are only starting this because somebody has spotted an opportunity. $$$$. Why the delay when they have been saying that its being done. Why not do it? do it?? do it.??? Just like importing Moderna vaccine. Could it be months until they agree how much they cost. And the other most important details are (a)greed. Edited July 18, 2021 by jojothai correction 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardColeman Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Will be a hard sell if the price is equal to a case of Chang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
internationalism Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 they have already put cap 100b several days ago. But this can be easily reversed to 300-400b or any other figure drown from hat. Just of a matter of smaller or bigger mark up from the wholesale 30b 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabas Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 2 hours ago, Nanaplaza666 said: They promise to controle the pricing but first they have to ask mr A , so my geuss is it will be controled 1000% but with a bit of commition on the price for mr A's wallet . What's your geuss ???? Mr. A will alot 10 units/day to Farangs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrJ2U Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 8 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said: Currently, only one company is able to undertake the tests in Thailand. The minister mentioned nonetheless, that if price controls need to to be instigated, his office is ready to act Monopolies always lead to higher prices. Vaccines and tests are free in most countries. Having to pay for them is going to discourage the average Thai to purchase tests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogmatix Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 These antigen tests are not very accurate when used at home. Lateral flow tests, as in the UK, are the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Hop Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 5 hours ago, KhunBENQ said: Approximate... Numbers seen: 300 to 500 Baht? (7.80 to 13 Euro). Prices in German drugstores 0.70 to 1 Euro. Unless the German government are subsidising the cost to the public, for 1€ you won’t be getting a very good test? Avacta in the UK have recently released a LFT which is 99% accurate when detecting people in the infectious period of the virus. It is approved in both the UK and EU but currently costs £5 each wholesale to businesses through their distributor as long as buy at least 200 at a time. Therefore about 300B would be about right for a test of this standard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 11 minutes ago, Trip Hop said: Unless the German government are subsidising the cost to the public, for 1€ you won’t be getting a very good test? I don't know whether it is subsidized (not read/heard). The test are used in the millions (swab test, stick up the nose). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Hop Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 2 hours ago, Dogmatix said: These antigen tests are not very accurate when used at home. Lateral flow tests, as in the UK, are the way to go. These antigen tests are LFTs. The current ones being used in the UK are Chinese Innova brand repackaged by the government, are a pile of <deleted> and have recently received a damning report by the FDA in the US. They rely on a swab from the upper nasal cavity and back of throat similar to a PCR. Due to this fact, it is very hard to collect a correct sample without a professional help due to the discomfort and therefore are not really any good for self testing as people simply will not put themselves through the discomfort on a regular, possible daily basis. I know as I’ve had to do enough of them for work and your upper nose cavity stings for a day or two after. Mologic and Avacta in the UK have both produced highly accurate LFTs which use a swab from the lower nasal cavity and hence are a lot easier and more comfortable to use. For some reason though, the UK government don’t seem to think that the UK public deserve the extra cost though? Avacta did announce that they were in talks regarding the manufacture of the tests under license somewhere in the Far East, so you may just get lucky? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sucher Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 The 4 Pharmacies i checked today, 380 - 400 Baht. Pattaya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lingba Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Control price?...<deleted>!..they should be free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 On 7/18/2021 at 7:38 AM, Jonathan Fairfield said: The Ministry of Commerce has issued an assurance that it is ready to oversee the price of Antigen Test Kits for COVID-19, but is awaiting a Ministry of Public Health decision on whether or not they need to be price-controlled. I'm sure they will.... money to be made form the sale or they'll just block it like the vaccines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clivebaxter Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 They cannot even enforce the price of lottery tickets, this will be the same 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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