Deputy Gov: Jakarta to Follow Jokowi's Order on PCR Test Price Cap
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16 August 2021 19:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said the city administration would follow President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's order regarding the price ceiling of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test.
"The price of the PCR test as requested by Pak Jokowi will be followed up," said Riza in a voice recording published by Jakarta Public Relations Unit on Monday, August 16, 2021.
Previously, the President instructed Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin to lower the price ceiling of the PCR test to between the IDR450,000 to IDR550,000 price range.
According to Riza, the policy could trigger an increase in the number of Covid-19 tests using PCR. Riza asked all parties holding PCR swab tests to lower prices following the President's instruction.
"Of course, with a cheap and affordable PCR test price, it will be easier for people to carry out testing," he said.
President Jokowi on Sunday, August 15, 2021, instructed the Health Ministry to set the price ceiling for the Covid-19 PCR test at IDR550,000. He expressed the hope that given the price range, the number of COVID-19 tests can be increased.
LANI DIANA WIJAYA
