We need to get more approved COVID testing kits and this will result in competitive prices – AG

Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the passing of the Medicinal Products Amendment Bill last week and the allowance for the Health Minister to make exceptions for the importation of certain medicinal products will mean many pharmacies, doctor surgeries and labs can open up, and competitive prices can be offered.

However National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says people are asking if this amendment is similar to the recent legislation on the sale of shares pre-2011 being exempted for Capital Gains Tax by helping certain businesses roll out the COVID testing equipment to obtain a license.

Sayed-Khaiyum says it will ease the burden on the public health system.

The amendment gives powers to the Minister for Health to make exceptions in relation to the import, manufacture or export of products, in particular to make the importation of COVID-related equipment easily available at affordable prices.

Sayed-Khaiyum says we need to do this urgently in particular in relation to COVID-19 and the issue at hand is that there are currently COVID testing kits that are available on the open market and from various producers and manufacturers.

He says we need to get as many of those into the market and get many imports as possible who can import these products as long as those products are listed by the Minister through this regulation.

Sayed-Khaiyum says one of the major costs involved in tourists coming to Fiji is their PCR testing that they have to do.

He says Professor Prasad is full of conspiracy theories.

Professor Prasad says surely the Attorney General did not just wake up from his slumber on Sunday and he definitely knew that the borders were opening on December 1st to welcome tourists and it was extremely important to deregulate COVID testing to ensure reduction in charges for the tests.

He says the legislation, simple as it may be, raises a lot of questions.

Sayed-Khaiyum asks where have we gone to from getting approved COVID testing kits to Professor Prasad talking about illicit drugs and Interpol.

Meanwhile SODELPA MP Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says they do recognise the need for the importation of COVID related equipment to be made easily accessible and at affordable prices, but the bottom line is that approved medical products should be linked to the overall public health system and public health safety should always be paramount.

Ratu Atonio says the importation, manufacturing and export of medical products require an expert opinion and approval of a regulatory authority in order to ensure quality and standards are not compromised to protect public health and safety.