SINGAPORE – Antigen rapid test (ART) kits are in short supply in Singapore, with some pharmacies and retailers reporting that their stocks have sold out amid a spike in daily coronavirus cases.
But distributors here said there is no reason to panic buy the kits, as there is adequate stock available locally.
The daily number of infections has surged past the 1,000 mark in the past week, the highest in more than a year.
At least six retailers in Toa Payoh Central, VivoCity and Bukit Panjang had run out of ART kits when The Straits Times visited on Monday (Sept 20).
Demand for the test kits has increased almost fivefold in recent weeks, said spokesmen for Guardian and Watsons, two major health retail chains here, in response to queries from The Straits Times.
The spokesman for Watsons said: “In general, we understand that the market is facing limited stock availability. Stocks that we bring in are sold out very quickly.”
Watsons is working with suppliers to replenish stocks and explore alternative providers to boost supplies, she added.
The Guardian spokesman said more stocks will be available this week and assured customers that there are sufficient test kits.
Over at supermarket chain FairPrice, its spokesman said demand for ART kits has more than doubled in the past week compared with the week before.
“This could be due to increased awareness of the self-test kits in the light of the elevated numbers of Covid-19 cases recently in the community,” she said.
FairPrice is working with the Health Sciences Authority’s (HSA) approved suppliers to ensure sufficient supplies and a wider selection of kits to cater to the community’s needs, added the spokesman.
Distributors here told ST that there is adequate stock.
Mr Wayne Yap, the director of pharmaceutical company Unison Collaborative, said there is sufficient stock at its warehouse to meet the orders for ART kits.
The firm distributes Abbott Panbio test kits – one of six brands authorised by HSA.
He said: “The demand for stocks has been very high for some time now and we are working to replenish stocks everywhere.
“Retail outlets that we work with are getting restocked continually.”
Some ART kit bundles will also be removed from its “pre-order” list and made available for immediate purchase shortly, he added.