TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, has instructed the Health Ministry to set the price ceiling for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at Rp550,000.

“I have talked about it with the health minister. I asked (him) to set the price of PCR test within the range of Rp450,000 to Rp550,000,” the President said via the Presidential Secretariat’s Youtube channel in Jakarta on Sunday.

PCR test is the method of checking SARS CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19 through detecting DNA virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recommended PCR test to detect COVID-19.

“In addition, I also asked (him) to ensure that the result of PCR test can be made known in 24 hours at the latest, We need speed,” the President said.

The head of state expressed the hope that given the price range, the number of COVID-19 tests can be increased.

“One of the ways to increase the number of (COVID-19) tests is lowering the price of PCR test,” he said.

Earlier, the Health Ministry issued Circular No. HK. 02.02/I/3713/2020 dated October 5, 2020 which set the Price Ceiling of Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test including taking swab samples at Rp900,000.

The tariff applies to individually requested RT-PCR test.

Meanwhile, the price ceiling of rapid antigen test is is Rp250,000 for Java and Rp275,000 for outside Java.

However, India Today reported on Thursday (Aug 12) that the Indian government has set the price of PCR test at 500 rupees or nearly Rp96 thousand.

Skytrax Rating, flight service consulting institute based in England, said the price of PCR test at Indian airport including Mumbai Airport is is the lowest, reaching US$8 or Rp127,320.

Read: Govt Urged to Reconsider PCR Test Rule for Air Passengers

ANTARA