GPO to get 2m test kits from China

Two million Chinese-made Antigen Test Kits (ATKs) will be delivered to the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) next Tuesday, according to the World Medical Alliance, the company authorised to purchase 8.5 million kits for the government's fight against Covid-19.

Dr Witoon Danwiboon, managing director of the GPO, on Monday said at a press conference that it has signed a purchase contract with the company, which won a contract to purchase SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Tests manufactured by Beijing Lepu Medical Technology in China.

The bidding was done following a request by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to purchase ATKs for rapid testing to help control Covid-19.

"The company will provide the product within 14 days since the contract is signed," Dr Witoon said. "The product must be distributed to 1,000 service points set by the NHSO."

Siriya Thepcharoen, an executive with the World Medical Alliance, said there was a delay but the product has already been endorsed by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union members.

She was referring to delays following the United States' decision to recall Lepu's ATKs from store shelves earlier this month over concerns that they may not provide accurate test results. Over 8 million kits were reportedly recalled.

"The first 3 million sets of [the 8.5 million] ATKs are expected to arrive in Thailand shortly," Ms Siriya said. "The first 1 million sets are for our regular customers and the 2 million sets for the GPO will be received next Tuesday."

"We'll send samples for further quality tests by the state-owned medical institutes so the public will be reassured about quality," she said. "We will file legal action against any person devaluing our product with fake information."