The Indonesian Ombudsman has advised the federal government to examine the policy on COVID-19 rapid tests as there might be cost inconsistencies between test providers, resulting in individuals being charged “unreasonable” rates for the test.
Following the circular letter provided by the Health Ministry on Monday, which set a price ceiling of Rp 150,000(US$1049) for the COVID-19 rapid test, the ombudsman presumed that some stakeholders may be using the test and the pandemic situation to earn a profit.
Central Java Ombudsman member Siti Farida said “the state should have made fast tests complimentary of charge or at least subsidized the test,” as it was wished to curb the spread of the infection.
According to her, the Central Java Ombudsman found that some medical facilities in the area were charging up to Rp 500,000 for one quick test package and service.
” If the quick test can further include the spread of the infection, mass rapid tests should have been done wherever a mass crowd is discovered. However the service has moved significantly as it is now a mere industrial product,” Farida stated on Thursday as priced estimate by kompas.com.
Farida went on to say that there were only a number of independent rapid tests in the capital city of Central Java province, Semarang, and it was performed without any clear requirement. She specified her issue as crowded locations such as bus stops, ports, terminals and train stations in the area were seldom targeted for mass quick tests.
Even though some COVID-19 fast test centers have adhered to the ministry’s cost ceiling, the Central Java Ombudsman on Thursday reported that several healthcare facilities were still charging costs varying from Rp 250,000 to Rp 500,000 for a fast test service.
However, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) Slamet Budiarto deemed the government “too careless” for providing such a regulation. He argued that the cost ceiling of Rp 150,000 would not suffice to cover all the expenses needed for one fast test.
” The fundamental cost for a rapid test [kit] is between Rp 150,000 and Rp 200,000,” he stated as estimated by tempo.co There are still lots of other components, which require monetary costs particularly the non reusable medical sets, individual protective devices and the medical services.
To put it simply, medical facilities still require to cover the expenditures of other components if they select to adhere to the ministry’s cost ceiling.
” The ministry ought to have standardized the highest retail price for a rapid test [kit], not for the [entire] service price,” he said, suggesting that the federal government must not have actually strained the hospitals with the remaining expenses.
Prior to the Health Ministry’s circular letter, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated he had asked the Finance Ministry to fund rapid tests for public transportation users as they are needed to submit negative COVID-19 tests before taking long-distance journeys.
The request was made following many problems over the high prices of fast tests and polymerase domino effect (PCR) tests.
As of Wednesday, almost 970,000 samples had actually been tested nationwide. The main information reveal that 68,079 cases of COVID-19 have been determined in Indonesia, with 3,359 deaths. Not only is the test currently unaffordable for lots of people, however stigma likewise hinders Indonesians from getting checked for COVID-19 (trn)
