PCR Cost Cap Drives Private Hospitals to Partner With Govt Labs

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Private Hospital Association (ARSSI) has partnered with a network of government Covid-19 laboratories, overseen by the Health Ministry, to help identify potential cases of B.1.1.529 or Omicron in Indonesia. However, the association revealed that this is due to another reason related to the PCR test cost cap. 

ARSSI secretary general Ichsan Hanafi said this is also linked to the procurement of PCR swab testing kits that the government capped at between Rp275 thousand to Rp300 thousand. Private hospitals are currently reducing operational costs for the swab tests. 

“Because of the price adjustment, we are also trying to find suitable materials so that we can be even more economical. That means it was a bit heavy before with HET rates like that," said Ichsan on December 5, Bisnis.com reported. 

He added that in terms of the Omicron variant, they “have to work together with the health laboratory of the Ministry of Health, it looks like we can't yet. We at private hospitals only look at the clinical symptoms."

This also means private hospitals will refer patients with possible symptoms leading to the new coronavirus variant to government health laboratories. 

Previously reported, Medical & Laboratory Equipment Companies Association (Gakeslab) claims that the price cap introduced by the government had caused most privately-run PCR test kits available for the public to lack in terms of technology and is feared to affect the detection against Omicron.

Read: Minister Bahlil Lahadalia Asks Public to End Polemic on PCR Test Price

BISNIS