Punjab Govt caps RT-PCR test fee at Rs 1600 for private labs
Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the State Government, in exercise of the powers bestowed under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (COVID-19 Regulations 2020) directed that no private laboratory should charge any amount more than Rs. 1600 for RT-PCR test for COVID-19, inclusive of GST/Taxes, documentation, and reporting.;
Chandigarh: To encourage people for corona testing and to check profiteering by a private laboratory, the Punjab Government has capped COVID-19 test rates for private labs. The laboratories are also instructed to display rates in a visible manner.
Giving details in press communique, the Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the State Government, in exercise of the powers bestowed under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (COVID-19 Regulations 2020) directed that no private laboratory should charge any amount more than Rs. 1600 for RT-PCR test for COVID-19, inclusive of GST/Taxes, documentation, and reporting. He said that for TrueNat Test for COVID-19, no private laboratory should charge any amount more than Rs. 2000 and Rs. 2400 fixed for Cbnaat test inclusive of GST/Taxes, documentation, and reporting in the State of Punjab.
Also Read: Coming Soon: Price cap on CT Scans at all Maharashtra Hospitals, diagnostic centers
Sidhu clarified that any additional cost for home collection of samples is to be fixed by the individual laboratory. But the lab shall adhere to the guidelines issued by Punjab Government. He said that all the testing protocols as laid down by ICMR and the Government of India and the State Government from time to time shall strictly be followed by the Private Laboratories. The Private Laboratories shall share the data pertaining to the results of tests for COVID-19 with the State Government and uploaded on the ICMR portal on a timely basis.
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