Testing kits should be included in price stabilization items soon.

Since the days after the Lunar New Year of the Tiger in 2022, the number of people infected with Covid-19 has continuously increased very high, with more than 60,000 cases recorded per day. The number of cases has increased in many provinces and cities such as: Hanoi, Bac Giang, Lao Cai, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh... There are opinions that the actual number of new cases is higher than the number of recorded and reported cases.

Along with the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, the demand for equipment and supplies for epidemic prevention and control, especially rapid tests, blood oxygen meters, drugs, etc., has also increased very high. In recent days, in some places, there has been a shortage, supply cannot meet demand when many people go to buy test kits... "Out of stock" is the answer that many buyers received when asking to buy rapid test kits at many pharmacies in the capital. The reason explained by the sales establishments is that due to the sudden increase in demand, stores often do not stock much.

Chaos in Covid-19 test kits and prices on the market. Illustrative photo

This situation is similar to the shortage of masks when the Covid-19 epidemic broke out. Notably, through information channels, management agencies have discovered the phenomenon of speculation, hoarding or taking advantage of the epidemic to unreasonably increase the selling price of medical equipment. That poses problems for management agencies with this important item.

As the epidemic increases, the demand for equipment and materials for disease prevention and control also increases, which is normal. Therefore, relevant ministries and sectors need to coordinate and work with production and import units of SARS-CoV-2 test kits to proactively increase production and import activities to ensure supply on the principle of ensuring product quality.

On the other hand, units are required to publicly disclose and update prices, including requiring distributors and retailers to list prices, not to hoard goods and increase prices; not to allow the situation of high announced prices but low selling prices, creating loopholes for distributors and retailers to take advantage of and disrupt the market; not to sell to purchasing and speculative units to increase prices when domestic demand is increasing, causing market scarcity.

To strengthen measures to stabilize the prices of anti-epidemic materials, especially SARS-CoV-2 test kits on the market, relevant ministries and branches such as Health, Price Management, Market Management, Customs, etc. need to conduct inspections and checks on the declaration and publication of selling prices according to regulations to ensure that the selling price is consistent with input costs, not sold through many intermediaries, and unreasonably increased prices to ensure price stability on the market.

The epidemic is still complicated, so authorities need to research and propose to soon include SARS-CoV-2 test kits in price stabilization items; promptly post information, publicize prices, and publicize bidding results; apply information technology, review procedures to speed up licensing progress to ensure compliance with regulations and meet demand.

It is known that, to avoid speculation for profit, most drug stores in Hanoi must sign a commitment not to hoard goods and inflate prices, under the supervision of the market management agency. However, for profit, there are still a few sellers who arbitrarily raise the selling price higher than the listed price for profit. That requires inter-sectoral coordination to check, inspect and strictly handle violations.

As of February 23, the Ministry of Health has licensed 169 medical devices and in vitro diagnostic biological products for SARS-CoV-2 testing; of which 14 are domestically produced and 155 are imported, so there will be no shortage of supply. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has issued very specific instructions for risk cases (F1) and infected cases (F0).

Therefore, people need to research and contact the nearest medical facilities for detailed instructions, to avoid buying and using test kits when not needed, causing unnecessary waste, affecting the market. On the other hand, when buying and using products circulating on the market, people need to choose products with clear origins.