People flocked to Thailand’s Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) headquarters in Bangkok this morning (Friday), as the GPO began offering COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits (ATKs) for sale to the public at its head office and seven branch offices until January 19 or until the stocks run out.

1,000 queue tickets will be available each day at the GPO’s head office outlet for sale from 8 am. Each ticket holder can buy one box of 20 ATKs at 700 baht. 100 queue tickets will be available per day at other smaller GPO branches. Each agency can buy no more than 30 boxes per month and an email needs to be sent in advance.

The GPO has made 3 million ATKs available for sale and has ordered 3.5 million more.

One of the customers queuing this morning at the GPO’s head office said that he went there to buy the ATKs because his office is requiring every employee to take an ATK test every week.

Also, he said that ATKs in the general market are more expensive and in short supply.

The GPO’s branch offices are in the Yossae area, next to the Hua Chiew Hospital, Charan Sanitwong, Thewes near the Bank of Thailand, Rangsit near Simummuang market, the Ministry of Public Health, Hospital for Tropical Diseases and at the government complex in Nonthaburi.

Online bookings via www.gpoplanet.com begin Monday.