Thailand’s Pharmacies Will Distribute Free COVID-19 Antigen Test Kits to People At-risk

[snoop1130]

 

The Pharmacy Council of Thailand has authorized some local pharmacies to distribute COVID-19 antigen test kits (ATK) free of charge to individuals at-risk.

 

Council president Assoc. Prof Jiraporn Limpananont said once the ATK kits become available, they will be distributed to Type-1 pharmacies, which are registered with the National Health Security Office (NHSO). There are about 10,000 such pharmacies across the country and about 1,000 have joined the scheme.

 

She explained that a Type-1 pharmacy is open for at least eight hours every day and has a full-time pharmacist on the premises. Only individuals who are certified as being at-risk of getting infected by COVID-19 and are registered with the NHSO can receive ATKs free-of-charge from participating pharmacies.

 

Assoc. Prof Jiraporn said people will be evaluated and briefed by the on-site pharmacist before receiving their ATKs. After testing, ATK recipients must report their test results to get further advice. The council is also coordinating with Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration to allow local pharmacies to distribute favipiravir to COVID-19 patients in home isolation.

 

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-- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-23

 

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[it is what it is]

 tbh the government should be suppling these free of charge as a positive step in controlling the spread of the virus

[Kirb46Lam]

Is it the Chinese one Made in China 

 

[sapson]

4 minutes ago, Kirb46Lam said:

Is it the Chinese one Made in China 

 

Probably is but you can buy the Swiss made Roche kits, Thailand received a million or so free from the Swiss government....... couldnt possibly be the same kits though that are on sale at pharmacies for circa 300/400 baht each.

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, it is what it is said:

 tbh the government should be suppling these free of charge as a positive step in controlling the spread of the virus

Or at least for a subsidized price.

Five kits for 1400 Baht (Roche) at the drugstores is just too much for many.

280 Baht per kit is about 7.18 Euro.

In Germany at drugstores about 0.80 Euro.

 

[Pib]

 

Quote

Only individuals who are certified as being at-risk of getting infected by COVID-19 and are registered with the NHSO can receive ATKs free-of-charge from participating pharmacies.

Will probably take an act of buddha to get registered.  And I expect for for Thais only.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Pharmacy Council of Thailand has authorized some local pharmacies to distribute COVID-19 antigen test kits (ATK) free of charge to individuals at-risk.

So not quite available to all?

[Scott Tracy]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Only individuals who are certified as being at-risk of getting infected by COVID-19 and are registered with the NHSO can receive ATKs free-of-charge from participating pharmacies.

What are the 'at risk' categories? Who 'certifies' one as being 'at risk'? Why only those registered with NHSO? Why only 10% of the type 1 pharmacies registered? Why do they have to 'register'? Pitiful.

Edited August 24, 2021 by Scott Tracy

[Cake Monster]

14 hours ago, Pib said:

 

Will probably take an act of buddha to get registered.  And I expect for for Thais only.

And who exactly will determine which patients are at risk at the Pharmacy.

Sounds like a free for all tactic to reduce the number of PCR tests and mask the true numbers of infections.