MFDS to Supply 16 Million Personal Self-Test Kits for First Week of March

A self-test kit sales notice is posted at a pharmacy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 27th that during the first week of March (February 27 to March 5), 16 million COVID-19 self-test kits available for individual purchase will be supplied to approximately 75,000 pharmacies and convenience stores nationwide.

During the same period, 20.37 million kits will be supplied to the public sector to support vulnerable groups such as screening clinics, kindergartens, elementary and middle schools, daycare centers, pregnant women, and elderly welfare facilities. In March, a total of 210 million COVID-19 self-test kits are expected to be supplied to both the public sector, including screening clinics, and the private sector, such as pharmacies and convenience stores.

In February, a total of 105.2 million self-test kits were supplied nationwide: 37 million kits to screening clinics and others, and 68.2 million kits to pharmacies and convenience stores.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated that information on how to purchase self-test kits, instructions for children’s use, and methods to check convenience store inventory are provided on the official website.

Among the seven convenience store chains designated as self-test kit retailers, three companies?GS25, CU (씨유), and 7-Eleven?offer real-time inventory information of self-test kits through their own mobile applications.

The Ministry stated, "We will continue to actively cooperate with self-test kit manufacturers to increase production, ensuring that individuals can purchase self-test kits at the right time and reasonable prices to conduct tests."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.