PHC further cuts Covid PCR test rate

LAHORE:The Punjab Healthcare Commission on Thursday further reduced the price of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test of Covid-19, bringing it down to a maximum of Rs4,500. Also, the private hospitals, laboratories and their collection centres of the province have been directed to mention the names of kits and companies, batch numbers and countries of origin in the diagnostic reports. As per a letter issued across the province to all such centres permitted by the PHC for testing and collecting samples to detect Covid-19, the costs of PCR tests have been linked to the prices of kits being used. By virtue of this, the maximum price of such a test has been fixed at Rs 4,500 provided the price of the kit being used is more than Rs 1,500. “In case, the kit costs less than Rs 1,500, the price of the test will be Rs 3,000,” directs the letter. All the centres have also been directed not to charge more than the fixed rates. Moreover, these entities have been asked to implement the directions immediately, and violations in this regard to enforce penal consequences as per law, which includes fines, suspension of services, deregistration from the PHC, and sealing of the facility.