Updated Cost of Covid lateral flow testing

Summary

The requester asked for updated figures on the cost and volume of free lateral flow tests issued to Isle of Man residents between July 2021 and August 2022. Manx Care disclosed the total number of tests distributed, unit purchase costs, delivery and distribution expenses, and the overall total cost to the taxpayer.

Key Facts

• 3,107,922 individual tests and 70,000 packs of 5 tests were distributed to residents.
• The total overall cost to the Manx taxpayer for lateral flow testing was £9,072,127.48 (ex VAT).
• Purchase costs varied by batch, ranging from £1.09 to £2.75 per individual test.
• Distribution costs to residents (£800,444.06) were significantly higher than delivery costs to the island (£176,038.42).
• As of the response date, 158,178 lateral flow devices remained in stock.

Data Disclosed

• 3,266,100
• 70,000
• 158,178
• 3,107,922
• £2.75
• £2.45
• £1.35
• £1.09
• £11.75
• £2.35
• £176,038.42
• £800,444.06
• £8,095,645.00
• £9,072,127.48
• 2022-09-27
• 2022-10-06
• 1st July 2021
• 15th August 2022
• 30th September 2022

Original Request

A FOI reply dated 28.10.21 gave the cost of lateral flow testing up to 30.9.21. Free lateral flow tests on the IOM were generally ended on 15.08.22. Please can you provide the updated overall figures in relation to the following: 1. How many lateral flow devices were issued free to IOM residents for the period 1st July 2021 to 15th August 2022? 2. What was the overall purchase cost to the IOM Government of those test devices for such period? 3. What was the total cost of transporting such devices to the the IOM (including by carrier or post) for such period? 4. What was the total cost of distributing such devices to IOM residents (including by post or carrier) for such period? 5. What was the overall cost to the Manx taxpayer of lateral flow testing for such period (taking into account the purchase cost of the devices, transportation to the IOM, distribution, advertising and any other associated costs)?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000

Our ref: 2664305 6 October 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 27th September 2022 which states:

"A FOI reply dated 28.10.21 gave the cost of lateral flow testing up to 30.9.21. Free lateral flow tests on the IOM were generally ended on 15.08.22. Please can you provide the updated overall figures in relation to the following: 1. How many lateral flow devices were issued free to IOM residents for the period 1st July 2021 to 15th August 2022? 2. What was the overall purchase cost to the IOM Government of those test devices for such period? 3. What was the total cost of transporting such devices to the the IOM (including by carrier or post) for such period? 4. What was the total cost of distributing such devices to IOM residents (including by post or carrier) for such period? 5. What was the overall cost to the Manx taxpayer of lateral flow testing for such period (taking into account the purchase cost of the devices, transportation to the IOM, distribution, advertising and any other associated costs)?"

Following correspondence, it was agreed to provide an updated version of previous FOI 2020489: 1. How many lateral flow devices have been issued to IOM residents up to 30th September 2022? 2. What is the individual cost to the IOM Government of each test device? 3. What is the total cost of transporting such devices to the IOM (by carrier or post)? 4. What is the total cost of distributing such devices to IOM residents (by post or carrier)? 5. What is the total overall cost to the Manx taxpayer of lateral flow testing up to 30th September 2022 (taking into account the purchase cost of the devices, transportation to the IOM, distribution and any other associated costs)? Our Response 1 How many lateral flow devices have been issued to IOM residents up to 30th September 2022? 3,266,100 individual tests and 70,000 packs of 5 tests have been purchased. There are 158,178 LFD’s in stock to be distributed. 3,107,922 individual tests and 70,000 packs of 5 have been distributed.

2 What is the individual cost to the IOM Government of each test device? 84,000 @ £2.75; 2,532,100 @ £2.45; 500,000 @ £1.35; 150,000 @ £1.09 and 70,000 packs of 5 @ £11.75 (£2.35 each) 3 What is the total cost of transporting such devices to the IOM (by carrier or post)? Delivery costs £176,038.42 4 What is the total cost of distributing such devices to IOM residents (by post or carrier)? Distribution costs £800,444.06 5 What is the total overall cost to the Manx taxpayer of lateral flow testing up to 30th September 2022 (taking into account the purchase cost of the devices, transportation to the IOM, distribution and any other associated costs)? Please quote the reference number 2664305 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. Item Cost (exVAT) Purchase of Lateral Flows £8,095,645.00 Delivery £176,038.42 Distribution £800,444.06 Total £9,072,127.48

More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.