The Prospective Capital Region Asks For 3 Thousand Antigen Test Kits, But Only 1,000 Are Approved

JAKARTA - The Health Office of North Penajam Paser Regency in East Kalimantan Province will add supplies of rapid antigen test kits at health centers in its area in an effort to intensify inspection activities to detect COVID-19 transmission.

"We have submitted (requests) 3,000 units of rapid antigen test kits to the East Kalimantan Provincial Government. But only 1,000 units have been approved," said Head of the North Penajam Paser District Health Office Jense Grace Makisurat in Penajam, Saturday, March 5, quoted from Antara.

The 1,000 units of antigen test kits from the East Kalimantan Provincial Government will then be distributed to health centers.

In addition, according to him, this year the North Penajam Paser District Health Office plans to procure antigen test kits using regional incentive funds (DID).

"The budget that will be used for the procurement of rapid antigen test kits from the central government through the DID is around IDR 140 million," he said.

According to him, the Health Office plans to purchase 3,500 units of antigen test kits using DID to increase the supply of COVID-19 testing kits at the puskesmas.

He stated that the procurement of COVID-19 test kits could not be carried out in large quantities because local government funds for this purpose were limited.

Jense also explained that the North Penajam Paser District Health Office was forced to postpone the plan to carry out COVID-19 examinations in all regional device organizations because the available antigen test kits were limited.

"We can't carry it out yet. Rapid antigen tests in all OPDs or SKPDs (regional work units) have been postponed, because there are few rapid antigen test kits," he said.