ACOAM-Lup seeks response for 'expensive' Covid tests cost
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 21 2022:
The All Club Organisation Association & Meira Paibi Lup (ACOAM-Lup), Kangleipak has demanded a clarification from private healthcare facilities across the State regarding the varying inflated rates charged for RTPCR tests and Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) .
In a press meet held today at the office of ACOAM-Lup located at Lamphelpat, Finance Secretary of the organisation, M Binu Meitei informed that as per an order issued by the Director of Health Services, Dr K Rajo on April 22, 2021, the amount to be charged for RTPCR tests and RAT were fixed at Rs 500 and Rs 160 respectively for Government Centres and Rs 1400 and Rs 310 respectively for private healthcare centres.
On conducting an investigation, ACOAM-Lup discovered that private healthcare centres were charging varying rates for these tests, M Binu stated.
The finance secretary elaborated that in case of RTPCR tests, these private centres charged Rs 400 extra, under the guise of 'other charges'.
So in reality, the test which ought to cost Rs 1400 ended up costing Rs 1800, he added.
Further, with reference to the RATs, ACOAM-Lup discovered that private centres charged as much as Rs 450/500 instead of Rs 310 as ordered by the Health Services Director.
As such, M Binu Meitei questioned if these private healthcare centres had obtained some sort of approval from the Government to fix the rates of tests as they pleased and further demanded for a public clarification.
M Binu urged for a change in the rates within the next few days and cautioned against charging such inflated rates in the future.