Bengaluru: Covid-19 test costs in Karnataka, regardless of mode, the possibility of going down with the government that started the process to revise the price.
Officials say test costs can be cut up to 30%.
The last time the cost was revised was December 2020, when the first wave of Covid-19 infection was significantly reduced.
The government has reduced the price of RT-PCR tests conducted in private labs to half – from Rs 1,600 to RS 800.
The costs are limited to the RS 500 if referred by a government hospital.
Fast antigen test costs (mice) are set at Rs 400.
Now, this test costs, in addition to other modes such as fast cartridge-based tests such as Truenat (RS 1,250), CBNAT (RS 2,400) and Abbott Express tests) and Abbott, which are currently used At Kempegowda International Airport about international leaflets, it is expected to fall.
Some countries such as the UAE demanded negative test reports no more than four hours before departure asked the authorities to establish testing centers at the international airport.
Officials said the fall of raw material prices such as antigens (chemicals used in covid tests), increased production volume of testing kits, and shear demand because the pandemic situation has increased, among the main reasons that encourage the government to consider the cutting rate.
“It’s been a long time since the test costs are revised, and we think it’s time to rationalize them.
New rates will be announced in one or two weeks,” Dr.
CN Manjunath, Nodal officers for testing Covid-19.
Dr.
KV Trilok Chandra, Health Commissioner, said the Department of Health and Family Welfare has requested the Covid-19 State Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to look into the cutting level proposal.
He said the government would receive a telephone based on TAC recommendations.
Dr.
MK Sudarshan, Chair, TAC, confirmed the committee working on a proposal, saying: “We are studying the price structure in other countries and talking to various stakeholders including private laboratories.” ‘Save us at Loop’Private Hospital and the laboratory seem to have their own concerns, and they have urged the government to consider their opinions as well before completing numbers.
“The government must arrive at consensus about pricing through negotiations and dialogue,” said Dr.
H Sudarshan Ballal, Chairperson, Manipal Hospital.
“Although it is very important to continue with the level of testing carried out in the country and maintaining momentum, it is also important to ensure the feasibility of the private business laboratory.” In addition to cutting speed, the government also wants to increase testing, especially considering the fall of the number of daily testing.
Against the forced target by the Government of 1.5 lakh tests per day, only 1.1 Lakh tests carried out on average every day.
More than 1.7 Lakh tests were carried out in the state on September 1, but the number began to fall afterwards.
On September 20, only 1.1 the lakh test was carried out.
“There seems to be a little doubt among people undergoing Covid tests, especially after the second wave of receding and vaccination coverage increases,” Dr.
Manjunath said.
“But it is important to test aggressive testing.
We plan to increase the drive through randomized testing with a special focus on school students.”