The Association of Government Medical Laboratory Technologists says Rapid Antigen Test kits cannot be imported to Sri Lanka at a price of Rs.80 per kit.
Speaking during a media briefing in Colombo, the President of the Association Ravi Kumudesh said a Rapid Antigen kit can be imported at a price of Rs.600 or Rs.800 if the government intervenes.
Kumudesh said various individuals cite different prices for the test kits.
He said certain individuals claim it could be imported for Rs.80, while the former Director of the Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka claimed a kit can be imported at Rs.600, and the only importer of the kits claims a control price of Rs.1,145 is in place.
Meanwhile, Kumudesh said the Ministry of Health issued a maximum price limit of Rs.2,000 adding that as a result the private health sector claimed they are unable to test at the price and halted all testing.
Kumudesh said it is impossible to import a Rapid Antigen Test kit for Rs.80 adding the raw material per kit alone costs more.
