TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Health Agency supported the Health Ministry’s regulation on the price ceiling for an independent COVID-19 swab test at Rp900,000.

“We strongly support the policy,” said the city’s Health Agency Head of Disease Prevention and Control Division, Dwi Oktavia, on Monday, October 5, 2020.

According to her, the determination of the price ceiling could ease many people who wished to take independent swab tests in hospitals.

However, since the onset of the outbreak, the city government has held free swab tests for people presenting symptoms of the coronavirus disease or those with acute respiratory infections (ISPA), Dwi added.

“In Jakarta, people having such symptoms can just visit Puskesmas (community health centers) or regional hospitals to get a free check-up,” she said.

The Health Ministry was determined to set the price ceiling for an independent COVID-19 swab test at Rp900,000. This was agreed with the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP).

“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 claimed the price ceiling for an independent 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 also: Health Ministry Sets Price Ceiling of Rp900,000 for COVID-19 Swab Test

IMAM HAMDI