JAKARTA - Director of Production and Supply Chain Kimia Farma Andi Prazos said that his party will produce a rapid test kit for the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus or a rapid test for under IDR 100,000. Production will take place in mid-August.
According to him, this step is at the same time to answer a number of statements that say the state-owned company's rapid test is expensive.
"Hopefully by mid-August we will be able to launch an inexpensive rapid test, which can help the community so that it becomes a necessity. Hopefully we can sell it for under Rp. 100,000," he said in a video conference with journalists, Wednesday, July 29.
Andi said, since the beginning of the pandemic, the company has been trying to provide a COVID-19 rapid test kit that is manufactured in Denpasar, Bali. He explained that the production of this tool is still ongoing so that it can be distributed en masse in the coming months.
"We are currently developing a rapid test product for COVID-19. Actually, the rapid test in Bali is not only for COVID-19, but indeed since the beginning we have developed COVID-19," he said.
Meanwhile, President Director Verdi Budidarmo denied that Kimia Farma's rapid test was sold at a high price, as is being discussed. He emphasized that the test kits were sold at a price according to the government's recommendation of IDR 150 thousand.
"We provide a rapid test including in Cengkareng, yes, we are following the government's recommendation, which is priced at IDR 150 thousand," he said.
Not only that, Verdi emphasized, Kimia Farma has also provided the COVID-19 test kits at 13 airports in Indonesia and five ferry crossings.
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