‘Review rapid test regulation’

Ombudsman: People being charged unfair prices to get tested

THE Indonesian Ombudsman has urged the government to review the regulation on Covid-19 rapid tests as there might be price discrepancies between test providers, resulting in people being charged “unfair” prices for the test.

Following the circular letter issued by the Health Ministry on Monday, which set a price ceiling of 150,000 rupiah (RM44) for the Covid-19 rapid test, the Ombudsman presumed that some stakeholders might be using the test and the pandemic situation to make a profit.

Central Java Ombudsman member Siti Farida said “the state should have made rapid tests free of charge or at least subsidised the test”, as it was hoped that its use would curb the spread of the virus.

According to her, the Central Java Ombudsman found that some hospitals in the region were charging up to 500,000 rupiah (RM148) for one rapid test kit and service.

“If the rapid test can further contain the spread of the virus, mass rapid tests should have been done wherever a mass crowd is found. But the service has shifted substantially as it is now a mere commercial commodity,” Farida said yesterday as quoted by kompas.com.

Farida went on to say that there were only several independent rapid tests in the capital city of Central Java province, Semarang, and it was performed without any clear standard.

Even though some centres have adhered to the ministry’s price ceiling, the Central Java Ombudsman yesterday reported that several hospitals were still charging prices ranging from 250,000 rupiah (RM74) to 500,000 rupiah (RM148) for a rapid test service.

Nevertheless, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association Slamet Budiarto deemed the government “too reckless” for issuing such a regulation.

He argued that the price ceiling of 150,000 rupiah (RM44) would not be enough to cover all the expenses needed for one rapid test.

“The ministry should have standardised the highest retail price for a rapid test (kit), not for the (entire) service price,” he said, indicating that the government should not have burdened hospitals with the remaining costs. — The Jakarta Post/ANN