Rajiv to Gov’t : Just make COVID-19 testing cheap for everyone!

THE Government should just make COVID-19 testing accessible cheaply for locals so that the latter will be encouraged to get tested regularly.

“I strongly urge that the Government look into making Rapid Antigen Test (RTK-AG) testing available and affordable for all.

“The service fee imposed by the panel clinics should also be standardised to a fee that is acceptable by the public,” Bukit Gasing state assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran told FocusM.

Rajiv Rishyakaran

Yesterday, Malaysia reported a new record high of 2,593 COVID-19 cases with 965 detected in Selangor. This is 68 cases more than the country’s previous record high of 2,525 cases which was recorded on December 31 last year.

On the same note, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Malaysians who travel interstate or inter district are encouraged to voluntarily undergo COVID-19 screening before leaving a red zone.

The Bera MP made the suggestion following Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah linking several new COVID-19 clusters to interstate and inter district travels after it was allowed on Dec 7 last year.

While he welcomed Ismail’s suggestion, Rajiv said the Government should ask itself on the availability or affordability factor of the RTK-AG to locals across the nation.

“The Government (through the Social Security Organisation-Socso) has provided free RTK-AG test kits to panel clinics to test foreign workers. The employers of these foreign workers only have to pay a clinical service fee that starts from RM35 upwards.

“If the panel clinics are already getting these test kits for free from the Government to test foreign workers, the same deal should be extended to all Malaysians.

“This is really unfair to Malaysians who also want or need to be tested, especially for travelling purposes. The test kits provided to the clinics should also be made available to the general public, thus lowering the burden of cost on our people,” Rajiv opined.

The Selangor state assemblyman said that currently, the RTK-AG testing price varies from one private clinic to another – from RM50 to RM100 – leaving the public discouraged from getting tested regularly.

Although Government clinics offer the tests at RM60, Rajiv said that many of them are unable to get the tests done as the former are overwhelmed with cases.

“Giving the same deal to the Malaysian public will also encourage more testing. This will lead to more cases detected, controlling the spread and overall, help the nation in the fight against COVID-19,” he remarked. – Jan 7, 2021.

 

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