SPC re-advertises tenders to import rapid antigen test kits

COLOMBO (News1st): The State Pharmaceutical Corporation has readvertised for tenders to purchase up to 500 Rapid Antigen testing kits. "We have companies registered to provide two types of Rapid Antigen Test kits; one in Korea and the other in Germany," Dr Kamal Jayasinghe, the director-general of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) said. He added that the validation of the kits would begin as the samples begin to arrive in the country. Importers must be registered with the NMRA to qualify for the procurement of the kits, according to the tender advertised by the state pharmaceutical body. However, a News1st investigation revealed that one local company has been registered for this purpose. Ravi Kumudesh, the chairman of the Association of Government Medical Laboratory Technologists, raised concerns over the need to import small quantities of antigen kits while there are remaining stocks. He pointed out that 200,000 kits have already reached Sri Lanka, and that another 100,000 is due. "This amounts to about 300,000 and as of now, we are aware that about 15,000 tests have been carried out," Kumudesh observed.