Price control on PCR and Antigen tests

The Consumer Protection Ministry is to issue a gazette introducing price control for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) conducted in private sector hospitals, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said today (11).

According to the Minister, tomorrow (12) a gazette will be issued introducing a maximum retail price of Rs. 6500 for a PCR and Rs. 2000 for RAT.

“The decision was made following a series of discussions between the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Consumer Protection. We have to ensure that the public is not overcharged during a pandemic. Once published all private hospitals should abide by the gazetted prices,” she said.

Addressing the media, State Minister of Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna said officers attached to the Consumer Affairs Authority had investigated the prices of PCR and antigen tests in 45 private hospitals in 21 districts.

“It was revealed that the price of a PCR test ranged between Rs. 5500 to Rs. 9750 while an antigen test was priced between Rs. 2000 to Rs.5500. In some places the prices were even higher,” Minister Alagiyawanna said.