Ranchi: Jamshedpur (East) MLA Saryu Rai has urged the government to reduce the fee charged in private labs. RT-PCR testing. On Friday, Rai wrote to the Chief Secretary, Sukhdev Singh, demanded a reduction in rates and questioned the logic of the lab behind accusing a suspect covid 200 additional to the patient for home collection of his/her swab samples.
Currently, as per the government approved rates, private labs are charging Rs 400 for RT-PCR test and Rs 600 if the lab staff is collecting samples from the patient’s home. The additional Rs 200 is to cover the cost of PPE gear and logistics. While the government has not clarified whether laboratories can charge an additional Rs 200 per person, laboratories are taking full advantage of it and charging Rs 200 per patient, even if there is more than one COVID patient in a particular household.
In his letter, Rai said the government should bring down the testing rates below Rs 100 and laboratories should not charge extra for home collection. He said, “I have come across several instances where private labs are charging Rs 200 per person for home collection. Even though the government has approved Rs 200 as an additional rate for home collection, it is not clear whether they should charge it per person or just Rs 200 for home visits. It is perhaps the latter because irrespective of the number of infected members in a household, the technician is visiting that house only once to collect samples. So why do you charge such a hefty amount?”
Atul Gera, activist and founder of NGO Life Saver questioned the government for charging such a high amount for RT-PCR test when home test kits are available in the markets for Rs 50. He said, “This is the time when the rates should be drastically reduced to encourage people to go for Kovid tests so that the pressure on government laboratories is reduced. Also, when our government says we are a poor state, it should keep the testing rates to a minimum to give relief to the people.”
State Health Minister when asked Banna Gupta was not committed to reduce rates immediately, but assured to review the rates after talking to its officials. He said, ‘I agree that the lab should charge an additional Rs 200 per house visit and not on the basis of the number of infected persons. We will soon come out with an order which will bring more clarity on the issue. As far as the RT-PCR test rates are concerned, I will soon have a meeting with the officials concerned to review the allegations.
Currently, as per the government approved rates, private labs are charging Rs 400 for RT-PCR test and Rs 600 if the lab staff is collecting samples from the patient’s home. The additional Rs 200 is to cover the cost of PPE gear and logistics. While the government has not clarified whether laboratories can charge an additional Rs 200 per person, laboratories are taking full advantage of it and charging Rs 200 per patient, even if there is more than one COVID patient in a particular household.
In his letter, Rai said the government should bring down the testing rates below Rs 100 and laboratories should not charge extra for home collection. He said, “I have come across several instances where private labs are charging Rs 200 per person for home collection. Even though the government has approved Rs 200 as an additional rate for home collection, it is not clear whether they should charge it per person or just Rs 200 for home visits. It is perhaps the latter because irrespective of the number of infected members in a household, the technician is visiting that house only once to collect samples. So why do you charge such a hefty amount?”
Atul Gera, activist and founder of NGO Life Saver questioned the government for charging such a high amount for RT-PCR test when home test kits are available in the markets for Rs 50. He said, “This is the time when the rates should be drastically reduced to encourage people to go for Kovid tests so that the pressure on government laboratories is reduced. Also, when our government says we are a poor state, it should keep the testing rates to a minimum to give relief to the people.”
State Health Minister when asked Banna Gupta was not committed to reduce rates immediately, but assured to review the rates after talking to its officials. He said, ‘I agree that the lab should charge an additional Rs 200 per house visit and not on the basis of the number of infected persons. We will soon come out with an order which will bring more clarity on the issue. As far as the RT-PCR test rates are concerned, I will soon have a meeting with the officials concerned to review the allegations.
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