Govt. reins in private hospitals overcharging for COVID tests

The Ministry of Health will issue a Gazette today (12) to regulate the maximum price that can be charged by private hospitals for PCR and antigen tests. According to the Gazette, the maximum price that private hospitals can charge for a PCR test is Rs. 6,500 and Rs. 2,000 per antigen test.

Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, during a discussion with the Ministry of Health and the Consumer Affairs Authority officials, said that the Ministry had received a large number of complaints from the public that private hospitals were charging high prices for COVID-19 tests.

State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection, Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that there were also many complaints about the quality of the tests.

“A survey on the PCR and rapid antigen tests were conducted by the Consumer Affairs Authority officials and they found that private hospitals charge between Rs. 5,500 and Rs. 9,750 for a PCR test. They were also charging between Rs. 2,000 and 5,500 per rapid antigen test. We sent the details to the Ministry of Health and they got back to us with a Maximum retail price (MRP),” he said. (RK)