Health Ministry Sets Price Ceiling of Rp900,000 for COVID-19 Swab Test
Translator
Dewi Elvia Muthiariny
Editor
Markus Wisnu Murti
Jumat, 2 Oktober 2020 18:15 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Ministry and the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) have agreed to set the price ceiling for an independent COVID-19 swab test at Rp900,000.
“We agree to set the price ceiling that we can be held accountable for at Rp900,000,” said the ministry’s acting Director-General of Health Services, Abdul Kadir, on Friday, October 2, 2020.
Abdul said the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the detection of the coronavirus disease could only be done by molecular observation through a PCR swab test. This decision, he added, had been made following various considerations.
According to him, there are at least three discussions held between the Health Ministry and the BPKP to determine this price ceiling. Abdul further mentioned that the considerations included services of human resources, extraction, up to sampling services.
From now on, Abdul claimed the price ceiling of the COVID-19 swab test would be first introduced to health facilities before the ministry issued the circular. “(The price) will come into effect once the circular is issued. Perhaps next Monday,” he said.
Read: Govt To Regulate Prices of COVID-19 Swab Tests
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