Covid-19 tests by private labs to now cost Rs 300 less in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: The state government reduced the price for Covid-19 tests in private laboratories. Public health minister Rajesh Tope said the price across categories had been cut by Rs300. There are three categories in the state and prices have been capped accordingly. If a person wants his swab to be collected from his house, labs could charge a maximum of Rs2,800 per test, which has been reduced to Rs2,500, while swabs from hospitals to be collected for testing labs were charging Rs2,500, which has been brought down to Rs2,200, and for walk-in tests at private labs, Rs1,900 will be charged instead of Rs2,200.
This is the second time the state has cut the cost of tests.In June, it had issued a notification slashing prices by half. Tope said rates were brought down to make it feasible for people to undertake tests if they showed symptoms, and over the last few months, the cost of PPE kits and test kits too have reduced, so private labs must pass on benefits to people.
Tope said the state will come out with a notification to cap the price of masks and sanitisers in few days. There is a committee formed to study rates and decide on what should be its upper limit.
"The decision was taken by the state-appointed committee to bring down Covid-19 testing charges so that patients do not face financial burden," said Tope. The revised rates are the upper limit and labs can charge less, said officials.
High testing rates have been seen as an obstacle by experts in getting more people to test for the virus, so there has been a demand to make testing cheaper so that more people across sections can avail of it.