Private hospitals defy Govt fixed rate for Covid test
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 07 2021: Even though state government has fixed the rate for conducting Covid-19 test, some private hospitals are charging the fee at their own sweet will.

With the onset of Covid-19 second wave in the state and the exponential increase in positivity and fatality rates, people undergo Covid-19 test to know their status and get the vaccine so as to stay away from the virus.

As the second wave is more severe than the first one, even asymptomatic people who met Covid patients days back take Covid test in government or private hospitals and even at home after engaging private service providers.

Though the state government fixed the rate for conducting Covid test, several private hospitals continue to defy the rate and charge the amount according to their own will by taking undue advantage of the public fear and uncertain pandemic situation.

During a survey conducted by The People's Chronicle regarding the price of Covid test in private hospitals; it was found that the rate of Covid test is different from one hospital to another.

The state government fixed Rs 350 for conducting RAT at private hospitals.

However, private hospitals were found charging anywhere from Rs 500 to Rs 900 for the same test with only Babina Specialty Hospital found complying with the rate fixed by the government.

On the other hand, the price for conducting TRUENAT/CBNAAT and RTPCR at private hospitals and diagnostic centre is Rs 1400.But Babina Diagnostic Porompat charges only Rs 1200 even lesser than the price fixed by the government while other hospitals charge Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 for the same test.

For testing done at home, private hospitals and diagnostic centres charge at their own will by adding several other service charges.

Such action of private hospitals and diagnostic centres has added more burden to the already aggrieved people of the state.

This might be the cause for the decrease in the number of Covid-19 testing rate in the state.

So, there is the need for the government to look into the matter so that people face the pandemic at a minimum cost.

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