As edu institutes reopen, state plans to cap RT-PCR tests at ₹1,200

As edu institutes reopen, state plans to cap RT-PCR tests at ₹1,200

₹800 For Those With State Health Cover

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.12.2020

The gold standard for Covid-19 diagnosis, RT-PCR test, is now part of several standard operating procedures laid down for education institutions, travel and public events, but its cost is among the highest in Tamil Nadu.

While testing is done free of cost in 67 recognised government labs, the state health department has capped RT-PCR test cost at ₹1,500 (additional ₹500 in case of home collection) for private facilities. People enrolled with chief minister health insurance can be charged a maximum ₹1,200 for individual tests and ₹900 in case of pooled sampling. The state health department is considering bringing down the cap now.

“When several states have cut the cost, shouldn’t Tamil Nadu consider making the test affordable for people, especially since colleges are asking students to produce test results at the time of joining,” asked S Senthilvel, a public health activist from Vyasarpadi. “Most testing kits are now made locally and cost less than ₹450. Many states have cut down cost and allow patients to undergo antigen testing as well. But in Tamil Nadu, only RT-PCR tests are recognised and the cost is still high,” he said.

On Tuesday, the UP government slashed the test rates by nearly half to ₹700 (₹200 more for home collection) and the previous day, the Delhi government cut the cost from ₹2,400 to ₹800. Gujarat, Telangana and Rajasthan governments have capped the price of lab tests at ₹800.

Health department in Tamil Nadu is also revising the rates. Officials say the cost for individual tests will be brought down to ₹800 for those with the state health insurance. Labs will be allowed to charge ₹600 for pooled samples. For others, labs can charge ₹1200 (additional ₹300 for door-step collection). “A government order in this regard will be released soon. We want to implement the revised cost for insurance holders from December 4,” said a senior official.

The state, he said, did not want to bring down the cost for private patients to ₹800 as it felt it would not be “viable for staff.” The state has 221 labs that are authorised to conduct RT-PCR testing. Director of medical services Dr S Gurunathan said nearly 70% of tests in the state were done in government labs. In November, 83% of the tests were done in government labs, he said. Data shows that while government labs tested more than 15 lakh samples, the private labs processed 3.13 lakh. “We will be able to keep prices under control naturally because government labs have been doing the majority of tests,” he said.