Shen Caiying (left), chairman of the Taiwan Primary Pharmacy Association, said that there are currently only a small number of rapid screening reagents on the market and they are expected to be sold out before the end of July. (Source: Taiwan's "United Daily News")
According to Taiwan's "United Daily News", the new crown epidemic in Taiwan is heating up. Taiwan's disease control department estimates that it will reach its peak in mid-July, when the number of confirmed cases in a single week will reach 100,000, approximately There were a thousand hospitalizations for indigenous complications. Currently, Taiwan's disease control department is distributing free rapid screening reagents through grassroots clinics, but the number is only 3 million doses. Due to the spread of the epidemic, many clinics have run out of rapid screening reagents.
Zhou Qingming, chairman of the Taiwan Medical Association, revealed that there are currently about 2,520 grassroots clinics assisting Taiwan’s disease control department in distributing free rapid screening reagents. Due to the rising epidemic situation, the first batch of rapid screening tests has been distributed. The second batch of rapid screening tests, originally scheduled to be distributed at the end of July, will be sent forward to this week and is expected to be distributed within one week.
Taiwan's disease control department spokesperson Zeng Shuhui said that 3 million doses of publicly funded rapid screening reagents were distributed free of charge this time and were sent in two phases. After the distribution, there will be no inventory. In the future, the rapid screening reagents will return to the market mechanism, while Taiwan's disease control department has no There is another plan to purchase publicly funded rapid screening reagents. People who need rapid screening must purchase them themselves.
Lin Yingran, chairman of the Taiwan Primary Care Association, said that there have been a large number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in outpatient clinics recently, and the symptoms are mostly fever and cough. Those with mild illness can go home and rest on their own after seeing the doctor. If the symptoms are severe or they belong to high-risk groups, priority will be given to using public-funded express delivery. Screening reagents are used for testing, and those diagnosed can receive antiviral drugs.
Shen Caiying, chairman of the Taiwan Association of Primary Pharmacies, reminded that after the 3 million doses of publicly funded rapid screening reagents are distributed, they are expected to return to the market mechanism next week. However, there are currently not many rapid screening reagents on the market and they are expected to be sold out before the end of July. The next wave of new rapid screens will not arrive until September. During this period, there will be a one-month out-of-stock period. Relevant departments should respond as soon as possible. [Source: China Jingwei Network]
