GPO to close deal for Lepu Medical test kits Monday

[webfact]

 

By Tanakorn Sangiam

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Government Pharmaceutical Organization will be signing the supply agreement for 8.5 million COVID-19 antigen test kits from Lepu Medical on Monday, following a recent change to the Cabinet’s directive to lift theWHO certification requirement.

 

The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) will be signing a contract with Ostland Capital on Monday to supply 8.5 million COVID-19 antigen test kits from Chinese manufacturer Lepu Medical Technology.

 

This procurement, where the GPO is acting on behalf of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), has faced some backlash, as test kits from this particular manufacturer have been recalled in some countries, including the United States.

 

Such criticism prompted the Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to issue a directive for the GPO to procure only test kits certified by the World Health Organization (WHO), however this requirement has recently been lifted, saying the WHO has yet to approve any of the home use test kits.

 

After the signing of the contract on Monday, Ostland Capital will need to supply the kits according to the timeframe set in the contract. The kits will then be distributed to the general public in high risk areas at no cost for self tests.

 

The NHSO has stated they are ready to distribute the test kits to the general public imminently, with a particular focus on densely populated communities.

 

The kits will also be distributed to pharmacies and public health facilities within the NHSO network, to give people more access to COVID-19 tests.

 

Tests using these antigen test kits by primary care staff will also be available at at healthcare facilities. People who test negative, but are considered at high risk, will receive a take home test kit to take another test by themselves at home.

 

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-- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-27

 

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[MrJ2U]

Hmmm.

 

This stinks.

 

"Stop Using Lepu Medical Technology SARS-CoV-2 Antigen and Leccurate Antibody Tests: FDA Safety Communication"

 

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/stop-using-lepu-medical-technology-sars-cov-2-antigen-and-leccurate-antibody-tests-fda-safety

 

 

[khunjeff]

I guess they were always going to order these, no matter what - tests that are known to be unreliable, from a no-name shell company with no experience or history, at a price more than double what they would have paid on Alibaba. Makes perfect sense.

[unblocktheplanet]

Can't stop the Siam BS!

[tomacht8]

8 hours ago, khunjeff said:

I guess they were always going to order these, no matter what - tests that are known to be unreliable, from a no-name shell company with no experience or history, at a price more than double what they would have paid on Alibaba. Makes perfect sense.

Let's see what else is coming. The small, inactive, Russian Mini Ltd may hardly has the capital to pre-finance the import. Will the Chinese deliver without advance payment? And when will Thailand pay out the 600 million? If the tests fail, Thailand could withhold the money as well. That a country gives such a huge procurement contract to an Eventmanagement Mini Ltd.,

without contacting the producer directly.

Incredible.

Edited August 27, 2021 by tomacht8

[Nojohndoe]

Yes. No ! Yes. NO! YEs. Cheep cheep cheaper ?

If Thailand opens up as planned self tests will be a ho hum issue. You test positive? Ok. That's a shame. Well we have your details thanks. Good for statistics  And?

[lujanit]

How about concentrating on the twelve week wait between first and second jabs?  Oh that's right, you need another stream of income.