TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned pharmaceutical firm Kimia Farma has slashed the price of polymerase chain reaction or PCR test to Rp495,000 following the circular issued by the Health Service Director General No. HK.02.02/I/2824/2021 regarding the price ceiling of the swab test which takes effect starting August 17.

“Kimia Farma immediately adopts the government’s directive on the reduction of PCR test price as a form of our commitment to provide the best service for the Indonesian people,” said Kimia Farma President Director Verdi Budidarmo on Wednesday, August 18.

According to Verdi, this would provide ease for people to access the Covid-19 tests, leading to an improvement in Indonesia’s health climate.

The company also readjusted the price of a regular rapid antigen test which was initially set at Rp190,000 to Rp85,000. The Abbot Panbio's rapid antigen test, meanwhile, is now priced at Rp125,000.

A number of PCR test service providers have started lowering their rates since President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo ordered Health Minister Budi Gunadi to reset the price ceiling of the Covid-19 PCR test. With this price reduction, Jokowi hoped that the government could increase the number of testing in an effort to curb virus transmission.

Read: Health Ministry Sets PCR Test Price Ceiling

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA