The Health Ministry will pay private laboratories Rs 5,500 for every PCR test.
Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr Jageshwore Gautam on Sunday said private laboratories, completing due procedures, will also be allowed to test collected samples after seeking permission. The ministry will bear the expenses incurred by the private laboratories while testing.
Director with the National Public Health Laboratory Dr Runa Jha said the private laboratories will not collect samples and will be given extra samples by government laboratories.
The National Public Health Laboratory, authorized to decide about testing by private laboratories, had recommended they be paid Rs 6,000 for each test. But the ministry has decided to pay Rs 500 less, according to Dr Jha.
Public health expert Dr Samir Mani Dixit, who also operates a private lab, told Setopati that tests cannot be done at the rate fixed by the government. "Buying one test kit costs almost Rs 7,000. How can we test at this rate?" he asked. "I can test even at Rs 1,500 if the government provides the kit though."
He said private laboratories should be paid Rs 8,000 for every test.
The government has decided to allow private laboratories to test for COVID-19 due to the intense pressure on government laboratories.
Nine private laboratories have applied with the National Public Health Laboratory for permission but the government has yet to decide which laboratories will be given permission. The decision will be taken after monitoring the laboratories that have applied for permission.
