TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the National Airline Association (INACA) are exploring the import of COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits for national aviation purposes.

"Cooperation in possible import of good quality PCR but at cheaper price has been conducted with several producing countries," Denon Prawiratmadja, Kadin's Deputy Chairperson for Transportation, said in a statement on Sunday.

He said a lot of complaints from the public had been received very high price of PCR tests in Indonesia, and it could even be more expensive than the price of airplane tickets.

Hence, he said, his party tried to find PCR test kits that are cheap but having good quality to help ease the burden of airplane passengers.

The imported PCR test kits would be distributed to airports and other places. Hence, the PCR testing process for people planning to travel by plane could be faster, more practical and cheaper, he added.

Prawiratmadja, concurrently the general chairman of INACA, said that several producing countries such as India and Japan, were being approached for the plan to import PCR test kits.

"We have to move quickly because many other countries are also looking for PCR test kits in the world market. We hope that soon we will get it," he added.

Strict health protocol is now one of the additional principles that must be adhered to in aviation.

Previously the flight principle was 3S + 1C, now it is 3S + 1C + 1H (Safety, Security, Services through Compliance and Healthy).

"By applying the 3S + 1C + 1H principles, we from the aviation sector hope to be able to participate in helping the government in accelerating the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Hopefully the pandemic will soon disappear from the country and life will return to normal," he said.

Read: Jokowi Calls for Price Ceiling of PCR Test at Rp550,000

ANTARA