Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Even as the rush for the COVID19 testing at the government centres continues, which has been the major reason for delay in test results, the State government is yet to cap the rates for testing in private laboratories, which could bring down pressure on the State laboratories.
The Private laboratories are raking in the moolah with RT-PCR test charges costing around Rs 1900-Rs 2500.
The rapid antigen tests in the private laboratories in Goa is Rs 580 while the Anti-body tests is Rs 1000-Rs1500.
Many States in the country have capped the rates including the neighbouring State of Maharashtra and Karnataka, Kerala etc.
Interestingly, Maharashtra has capped the rates for the sixth time now since the pandemic started.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope made the announcement that” The price of “The new rates for RT-PCR test are fixed at ₹500, ₹600 and ₹800. For giving samples at the collection centre, ₹500 will be charged. For the same test at a Covid Care Centre or a quarantine centre, the charges will be ₹600 and to collect the swab from home, the labs can charge ₹800,” Dr Pradeep Vyas, principal secretary of public health department, said.
The cost of anti-bodies test will be ₹250, ₹300 and ₹400 for similar services respectively.
“No private lab can charge more than these prescribed rates,” he added.
For another test- CLIA- for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the charges will be ₹350, ₹450 and ₹550 respectively, while for rapid antigen test the amount will be ₹150, ₹200 and ₹300 respectively, Dr Vyas said.
One wonders if Maharashtra can do it, what stops Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant from doing so in Goa.
Goa has the highest positivity rate till now and such a move would encourage people to go for testing.
Many people now do not go for testing fearing they may contract COVID19 standing in the huge queue.
Despite all its efforts, Goa government is unable to increasing its testing above 7000 consistently.
On the contrary, Maharashtra is conducting 2-2.5 lakh tests daily, of which 1.5-1.7 lakh are RT-PCR. Mumbai is conducting 40,000-50,000 tests a day.
“If the rates are capped in private hospital people will be encouraged to go there for testing,” said a government doctor, refusing to be named.
