[Reporter's view]There should be no recurrence of COVID kit

Demand for self-examination kits is increasing rapidly as Twindemic, where COVID-19 and seasonal flu are prevalent at the same time, becomes a reality.

 

According to the pharmacy site data analysis service Care Insight (www.careinsight.co.kr), 12,629 self-kits were sold at 396 pharmacies in the 47th week of this year (11/13-19), with daily sales of about 4.56 pharmacies.

 

As the average daily sales per pharmacy in the 43rd week of this year increased every week from 2.45 to 2.87 (44 weeks) → 3.28 (45 weeks) → 3.91 (46 weeks), some are concerned about the recurrence of the supply shortage of self-kits in the first half of this year.

 

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it is continuously monitoring domestic production and inventory, adding that it is not at a stage where it is concerned about the reproduction of supply shortages.

 

The reason is that as of November 15, the inventory of self-kits is 70 million people, which can produce about 40 million people a week.

 

Front-line pharmacies are concerned that if the number of people looking for self-kits increases due to the Twindemic, the supply shortage that occurred earlier this year could be reproduced if demand suddenly increases more than supply.

 

In particular, as pharmacies were confused by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's management system, which changes every day at the time of the supply of self-kits, they have no choice but to worry about securing inventory of self-kits in preparation for Twindemic.

 

When the shortage of self-kits occurred in February, the government's policy changed several times in just 10 days.

 

On February 11, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced a ban on online sales on February 10, followed by then Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum's "consideration of introducing the highest price system," limiting sales to pharmacies and convenience stores, allowing small sales, and limiting purchases.

 

Pharmacists could not trust the government as they announced the designation of 6,000 won for each sale on Feb.

 

14, announced the application of 50 quotas per seller, and changed their words to abolish the 50 quota system on Feb.

 

16.

 

The problem occurred once more last August.

 

Complaints from pharmacies have increased as convenience stores that have not reported medical device sales businesses have been allowed to sell their own kits from July 20 to September 30.

 

It is said that the supply of self-kits is sufficient now, but if there is a shortage again, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is expected to actively intervene as in the cases in February and July.

 

However, if another unprepared policy and plan to ignore the existing system are announced, trust will eventually be broken.

 

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety should predict demand with experts in advance and create natural solutions together, not urgent measures so that there is no confusion and dissatisfaction at the site.