Haryana cancels imports of Chinese rapid test kits, citing high prices

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Haryana cancels imports of Chinese rapid test kits, citing high prices
The Haryana government is set to save Rs 4 crore by choosing a cheaper alternative: kits manufactured by South Korea's SD Biosensor.

HIGHLIGHTS

Haryana picks cheaper South Korean alternative
Chinese version 'overpriced': Heath minister
S Korean kits being made at Manesar IT Park
The Haryana government has cancelled imports of 1 lakh Chinese rapid test kits, citing high prices, and says it will procure the equipment from a South Korean pharma firm instead.

The kits ordered from China cost Rs. 780 each, almost twice the price quoted by South Korea's SD Biosensor (Rs. 380), state government sources said.

The government is set to save Rs 4 crore by choosing the cheaper alternative.

"We ordered Chinese kits when the state government decided to conduct mass Covid-19 tests," said Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus. "These kits were overpriced."

"Now, we have decided to procure these kits from the South Korean firm."

Haryana has already received 25,000 kits from SD Biosensor, the health department said.

Approved by both the ICMR and the NIV, Pune, the South Korean kits are being manufactured in the Manesar IT Park.

The ICMR on Tuesday asked states to stop using rapid antibody tests procured from China for two days after complaints emerged of a large variation in their accuracy.

China has offered to work closely with India to address such concerns.

Haryana has reported 245 coronavirus cases. Three people have died.


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