Coronavirus: Price of rapid tests continually fallen since October

Rapid test prices fell between October and February as a result of the government stimulating competition through tenders, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the ministry said that in a meeting in February with President Anastasiades and the coronavirus advisory team, party leaders requested data on the procedures followed for the supply of rapid tests, which was presented on Tuesday by permanent secretary Christina Yiannaki.

According to the ministry, the average price per test between October 27 and February 25 was €3.23. Prices per test ranged from  €1.97 to €5 during the recorded period, while they continued to fall from January 27 to February 25.

Approximately €6.7 million was paid for over 2.6 million tests, procured through the awarding of nine tenders between October 27 and February 28.

The ministry said all but one of the tenders were conducted through urgent procedures (as closed tenders) after one announced in December failed to procure the 750,000 tests required.

Moreover, in all cases, the tender review authority reviewed rapid tests by four different companies, the ministry said.

Regarding the rapid-testing policy adopted, the ministry said that all procedures follow suggestions from the ECDC to strengthen epidemiological surveillance in the community considering the appearance of new variants.

The need for more test kits goes hand in hand with the gradual easing of measures underway, which involves employees, people in high-concentration areas like schools and army camps, and people in closed areas, like nursing homes or immigrant centres.

The ministry stressed that the procedures it followed for the procurement of rapid tests adhered to the principles of competition by reviewing more than one bid in most cases.