KOLKATA: Several private labs in the city have decided to slash the cost of Covid-19 tests and are also gearing up to increase testing capacity, all in the effort to reach out to more people. At some labs, people suspected of having contracted the virus can visit with a prescription and get samples tested.
Currently,11private labs, along with 32 state-run facilities, in Bengal test swab samples. So far, private labs charged Rs 4,500 per test, a rate capped by the central government. “We have decided to charge Rs 2,800 for samples tested on OPD basis. People can visit our facilities on Elgin Road and in New Town and get their samples tested. This will come into effect from Monday,” said Somnath Chatterjee, managing director at Suraksha Diagnostics.
Earlier, Medica Superspecialty Hospital had slashed the rate to Rs 3,900. The move came after ICMR appealed to the state government to ask private labs to reduce the rate after low-cost kits arrived. “For now, we have reduced the rate for a Covid test via RTPCR from Rs 4,500 to Rs 4,000. Once we get a government order, we will revise the rate again,” said Sudipta Mitra, spokesperson for Peerless Hospital.
Sources said prices for RT-PCR kits had decreased considerably, but CBNAAT and TRUENAT techniques were still expensive though much faster methods. Private labs testing by CBNAAT or TRUENAT still charged Rs 4,500, the price being capped by ICMR. “We will hold a meeting on Monday, after which the hospital management will take a call on revising Covid test costs,” said a source at AMRI Hospitals. The hospital chain has two testing labs at Dhakuria and Salt Lake.
Of the 11private labs, seven test by RT-PCR, while the rest either use CBNAAT or TRUENAT. While the kits for government-run labs come from ICMR, private labs have to buy them from manufacturing agencies. Dr Lal Path Labs, which test the biggest number of samples among private labs, is also likely to revise the rates on getting a government nod.
Currently,11private labs, along with 32 state-run facilities, in Bengal test swab samples. So far, private labs charged Rs 4,500 per test, a rate capped by the central government. “We have decided to charge Rs 2,800 for samples tested on OPD basis. People can visit our facilities on Elgin Road and in New Town and get their samples tested. This will come into effect from Monday,” said Somnath Chatterjee, managing director at Suraksha Diagnostics.
Earlier, Medica Superspecialty Hospital had slashed the rate to Rs 3,900. The move came after ICMR appealed to the state government to ask private labs to reduce the rate after low-cost kits arrived. “For now, we have reduced the rate for a Covid test via RTPCR from Rs 4,500 to Rs 4,000. Once we get a government order, we will revise the rate again,” said Sudipta Mitra, spokesperson for Peerless Hospital.
Sources said prices for RT-PCR kits had decreased considerably, but CBNAAT and TRUENAT techniques were still expensive though much faster methods. Private labs testing by CBNAAT or TRUENAT still charged Rs 4,500, the price being capped by ICMR. “We will hold a meeting on Monday, after which the hospital management will take a call on revising Covid test costs,” said a source at AMRI Hospitals. The hospital chain has two testing labs at Dhakuria and Salt Lake.
Of the 11private labs, seven test by RT-PCR, while the rest either use CBNAAT or TRUENAT. While the kits for government-run labs come from ICMR, private labs have to buy them from manufacturing agencies. Dr Lal Path Labs, which test the biggest number of samples among private labs, is also likely to revise the rates on getting a government nod.
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