Complaints on exorbitant charges for COVID tests at private hospitals: Army Commander

Complaints on charging exorbitant amounts for antigen and PCR tests by private hospitals and complaints on private sector failing to follow proper procedures after persons are tested positive from PCR and antigen tests conducted in private hospitals/laboratories are being reported, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva who is the Head of National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 said.

He highlighted this at a meeting between Director General of Health Services, senior officials of the Health Ministry, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and private sector laboratory authorities/private hospital administrations.

“Only 30 technically-equipped such laboratories are authorised to carry out such tests in accordance with approved provisions and guidelines because concerns have been expressed as regards the reliability and accuracy of such tests by certain affected parties since they sometimes provide contradictory results. Only authorised standard charges should be levied for such tests. It is much better if those existing price ranges can be further reduced for the benefit of the masses,“ he requested.

General Shavendra Silva urged private sector authorities to refrain from misusing the authority that has been given to them.

He said health authorities allowed private sector hospitals to conduct antigen and PCR tests on tourists from Ukraine as a pilot project.

"It is obligatory for the private sector to detain those coming for antigen and PCR tests for some time in a waiting area before their results are reported but this appears not to be the case. Complaints have been received that although such cases are confirmed positive, proper laid down procedures have not been followed. Health authorities are not informed of such positive cases and private hospitals tend to release them haphazardly,” the Army Commander said.