"I have directed that the rates of RT-PCR tests be reduced in Delhi. Whereas tests are being conducted free of cost in government establishments, this (price cut) will help those who get their tests done in private labs," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a Twitter post.
In an order issued today, the state government said "All private labs, hospitals shall display the revised rates at prominent places within 24 hours." Delhi government said that samples collected through home visits, including all-charges collections, samples collection and testing costs, will be capped at Rs 1,200.
It also conveyed that the order comes into effect immediately and should be followed strictly.
The rate for RT-PCR testing kit varies from state to state. In Delhi, it was Rs Rs 2,400 while Andhra Pradesh pegged it as high as Rs 2,900. While on one hand Haryana conducts TR-PCR test for Rs 900, West Bengal and Karnataka have last month revised these rates at Rs 1,500-1,600. Private hospitals meanwhile charge Rs 1600 per test.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on last week launched a mobile laboratory at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) headquarters in New Delhi that will conduct free RT-PCR tests to detect COVID-19 for residents of the national capital.
The RT-PCR test will be done for Rs 499. The Ministry of Home Affairs said that ICMR will bear this cost and hence, the test will be absolutely free for people of Delhi. Moreover, the test report will also be generated in a record time of 6 hours after sample collections compared to 24-48 hours.