Covid test cost at pvt labs cut to R2.4k

Ranchi: Tests for Covid-19 at designated private laboratories across Jharkhand became cheaper by nearly 50% from Tuesday after the state department of health, medical education and family welfare on Monday issued an order restricting the maximum cost of the test at private laboratories at Rs 2,400. Until Monday, private laboratories were charging Rs 4,500 for each RT-PCR test of Covid-19 samples.
The order, which came into immediate effect on Monday night, said the Rs 2,400 will also include charges of picking and transportation of samples, its documentation and reporting. The order, issued by principal health secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni on Monday evening, said the rate of testing at private labs were lowered after a May 25 direction from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The ICMR had on May 25 withdrawn the maximum chargeable amount on each RT-PCR test, which was capped at Rs 4,500. It also directed governments of the states and Union Territories to negotiate with their respective partner private laboratories for lowering testing costs.
In Jharkhand, four private laboratory chains — Dr. Lal Pathlabs, SRL Limited, Pathkind Diagnostics Pvt Limited and Core Diagnostics — have been permitted to collect and test samples for Covid under ICMR guidelines. Medica Hospitals in Ranchi has also been cleared for collecting Covid-19 samples for testing at its facility in Kolkata.
“The expenses incurred for tests were high as the viral transport media kits were being procured from overseas. The kits are now being manufactured in India,” an official at a diagnostic chain said requesting anonymity. However, much before the government’s order, one laboratory chain with its headquarters in New Delhi had slashed testing rate to Rs 2,400, health operators said.
In Jharkhand, close to 10,000 of the 1.4 lakh Covid 19 tests have been done in private labs so far. The numbers are expected to rise in coming days. The high cost of testing was criticized by BJP. Former CM Babulal Marandi had written to CM Hemant Soren and urged the latter to consider reducing the costs in the line of states such as Karnataka