Antigen kits sent back due to low quality, 32,122 sent back, health ministry gave back entire amount

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After rampant complaints of low quality, the health ministry has decided to send back 32,122 antigen kits out of the one lakh kits bought from the firm, my lab discovery solutions. Meanwhile, the decision taken by the health secretary to give back the full amount to the company, for buying the kits from them has set off another controversy.

Kerala government has bought more antigen test kits as part of increasing the Covid 19 tests. The kits were bought via medical service corporation at a rate of Rs 459.20 per testing card from the firm my lab discovery solutions. For one lakh kits, the government paid Rs 45,92,000 and they were sent to the districts. As a first instalment, medical service corporation gave Rs 22,96,000. But district administrations raised the complaint that they were not giving the correct results.

Among the 62,858 testing cards, 5,020 were removed as they were obsolete and following this, the government decided to send back 32,122 antigen test kits. However, as the kits were used the chief secretary issue official order to give back the pending amount of 59,04,393 to the company. Meanwhile, the company said that as the government already has stocks of antigen kits from other companies, it won’t affect testing procedures.