The government of Spain confirmed this Monday, January 10, that it will regulate the sale value of the home covid test due to the increase that antigen tests have suffered in recent days.
This occurs due to the increase in coronavirus cases in that country, something that is common to most countries, including Mexico, where an escalation of positives is reported from the entry of the omicron variant.
The President of the Executive, Pedro Sánchez, said in an interview: “We will control the value of antigen tests to prevent the rise in prices.”
According to the Spanish media, the value of home tests to detect covid in pharmacies has increased from three or four euros (on average, they cost eight) to more than 12 euros in the latest surveys.
The explanation is none other than the most basic law of economics: supply vs. demand.
With the increase in cases, the demand for the kit for the home covid test increased, which drove prices up and complicates the progress of controls, one of the strategies that most countries are addressing: more testing and fewer restrictions.
Although it is true that it is a “law of the market”, the truth is that different organizations, from consumer associations to unions, have criticized the increases since they consider that this class of sanitary products should not be subject to the cold laws of the capitalist economy.
Although Sánbchez confirmed that they will start the controlHe did not say how or since when they will do it, nor the strategy with which they will address the issue: if through subsidies to companies or in some other way.
Nor did he say what the authorized price will be or if there will be a range of allowed values.
Home covid tests: what happens in other countries
In the United Kingdom, for example, home covid tests can be ordered through the official government website and are sent home free of charge, they are free.
In Germany, meanwhile, you have the right to one free antigen test per week.
In France there are free places and the price is regulated at a maximum of 6 euros. With one detail, free quota diagnostic tests are only delivered in this way if those who request them prove to be vaccinated.
In Portugal, home tests for covid do not exceed 3 euros. The Government also allows up to four free tests per month in more than a thousand pharmacies.
In Italy, the problem is similar to Spain. The price of the tests is not intervened and their price has more than doubled in a month: from 5 to 12 euros.
In recent days, in Mexico, Google searches related to this topic have grown. Mexicans try to get information with phrases such as “walmart covid tests” (+ 200%), “rapid covid cdmx tests” (+ 100%) and “similar covid tests” (+ 80%).