STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF HEALTH LUKE BROWNE
I have seen some public discussion about the testing supplies we received courtesy the kind generosity of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela yesterday. I would like to provide some clarification.
The issue surrounds the fact that the kits were placed for packaging and transportation purposes in a box marked “Blood Glucose Testing Strip” showing an expiry date of 2018/3. This was only for packaging.
The actual boxes containing the kits were inside the outer box and are shown below. One of the pictures shows the manufacture and expiry date to be: 20/3/20 (manufacture) and 29/3/21 (expiry).
The kits have been approved by internationally recognised regulatory agencies. They are listed by the John Hopkins Centre for Health Security as appropriate for use in the detection of COVID-19. They were produced by a top diagnostic company in China called Biotech Co. Ltd.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Venezuela for coming to our assistance with these quality products. Let us receive the supplies with a heart of gratitude. Thank you.
