Covid sops disappear, health check tests now costlier by at least 20 per cent

Pune: Health check tests are about 20 per cent more today than what you would have paid last year. Now that the competitive intensity has eased off in the market after the pandemic, some diagnostic chains and online players are gradually increasing the prices of health packages and specialised tests.

Bengaluru resident Kunal Haridas said in 2021 a diagnostics lab offered any blood test for as low as Rs 100 and about 50 tests for about Rs 350. "I took the package and they came home for blood collection. Now, the same tests cost Rs 200-Rs 250 more," he said.

An apple-to-apple comparison of test packages is difficult but a look at the websites shows that a basic health checkup package which includes about 56 tests costs Rs 849 on one diagnostic portal while a well-known one charges Rs 679 for 58 tests.

A review of the health packages of most diagnostic players shows that prices are up 10-20 per cent across the board.