The government today rejected the reports that it had purchased rapid antigen test kits for COVID-19 testing from a private company. State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Channa Jayasumana, said the government had only requested the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the test kits. “The government has not purchased any rapid antigen test kits from any company as of yet. Accordingly, the WHO released 50,000 test kits which we should receive today. Responding to questions about a private company bringing down the test kits, the State Minister said, “If they have done that, the test kits have been imported under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority’s (NMRA) approval for the use of private sector hospitals and not for the government.

Source: The Nation November 08, 2020 14:02 UTC