Rapid tests will soon be available for as little as NT$100 (US$3.40) in Taiwan under a government-run scheme. Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said on Monday he hopes the distribution plan can start in early May.
Right now, rapid tests cost around NT$300 (US$10) from Taiwanese supermarkets, although people can pick up free tests at some pharmacies.
In the first round of the upcoming countrywide scheme, people will be able to buy five tests each for around a third of that price.
Taiwan is also boosting its local production of rapid tests. The health ministry is hoping Taiwanese manufacturers will be able to make 15.8 million tests a month in the near future.
The increased focus on rapid tests comes as Taiwan deals with a recent surge in COVID infections. Government authorities say the health system is ready for a rise in patients, but they say the increase needs to be long and gradual, rather than short and sudden. Rapid testing and effective contact tracing are key to that aim.