Coronavirus Attempts are being made to alleviate the lack of availability of home tests – “Let’s fight to get them in Finland”

Coronavirus antigen tests, i.e., home tests sold in stores, go like hot stones. In the coming week, it should be clarified on what schedule the shortage of home tests will be alleviated.

CEO of Pamark Group, which imports antigen tests Minna Åman-Toivion According to him, millions of home tests are coming to Finland.

“Next week will be decisive when large quantities of tests would be available in Finland,” Åman-Toivio commented on Sunday.

Pamark is a key importer of the most common home tests in Finland.

Health and following the recommendation of the National Institute for Welfare (THL) to use home tests, their popularity has exploded not only in the consumer market but also in the workplace and in the public sector.

The sharp increase in demand has made finding a quick test uncertain in many places. In stores and pharmacies, home tests have temporarily stopped in some places.

“You get tests on the ground all the time, but they go with them when they come,” Åman-Toivio described.

There is a global shortage of access to home tests, and test producers are trying to meet an international need. Demand for the products has also been boosted by hoarding tests.

“The factory capacities are hard, and we are fighting to get them to Finland,” Åman-Toivio said.

Home tests was temporarily exempted from VAT at the beginning of the year, and the elimination of taxation is already visible to consumers on store shelves.

For example, the S Group has reported that the prices of home tests will fall by at least the same amount of VAT in all stores in the retail chain from the beginning of January.

Excessive information by From the beginning of January, the prices of home tests will also decrease by the amount of VAT in the K-Group’s and Lidl’s stores. Test prices are also falling in some pharmacies.

Åman-Toivio does not believe that buying a home test is a price issue for very many consumers, but is happy with the VAT exemption.

“Of course I think this will increase demand,” Åman-Toivio said.

Parliament decided to exempt home tests from VAT last week.