Maharashtra: Covid testing rates slashed fourth time since March

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has reduced the price cap for Covid-19 tests in private laboratories for the fourth time since the outbreak in March. With this, an RT-PCR test is now between Rs 1,800 and Rs 980, depending on the point of collection. The rate range earlier was Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,200 for the same categories. Thus, there has been a Rs 200 reduction across categories.

State public health minister Rajesh Tope said the new rates were applicable from Monday. While Rs 980 will be the maximum cost that can be levied by pathological laboratories for collecting swabs from centres and processing them, charges for tests conducted through private labs at Covid-19 centres, hospitals and quarantine centres or even walk-ins at private labs have been capped at Rs 1,400. The rate for home collection of swabs has been brought down to Rs 1,800 from the earlier Rs 2,000.

"Local authorities should ensure that the rates are followed and citizens do not have to pay more," said Tope. He also said that Maharashtra has consistency tried to cap prices of Covid-19 essentials, be it tests or even masks and diagnostic tools lie HR-CT scan. Tope said the rates were brought down to make it feasible for people to undertake tests in case they show symptoms and also because over the last few months the cost of PPE kits and test kits too have reduced and so private labs must pass on the benefits to the public. High testing rates have been seen as an obstacle by experts in getting more people to test for the virus and so there have been consistent demands to make testing cheaper so that more people across sections may avail of tests.