The number of coronavirus cases is on the rise across India and this is why the government is trying everything to increase its testing capacity. However, people with COVID-19 symptoms like fever, tiredness, dry cough, aches and pains, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhoea, etc should self-isolate and seek medical attention. But there are some confusion regarding COVID-19 tests. This is why the government has allowed NABL-accredited private laboratories to start testing COVID-19 samples. But some are still confused about the cost of the test. Others think that it is free of cost for everyone. Here we are going to clear all the confusion related to coronavirus test cost.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has set up a national task force to aid in the fight against COVID-19. The national task force has issued some guidelines for this testing. It has recommended the maximum cost for COVID-19 samples testing at private labs at Rs 4,500. “This may include Rs 1500 for a screening test for suspect cases and an additional Rs 3,000 as confirmation test charges,” a notification said.
Some states have made coronavirus test even cheaper
However, there are some variations to it as some states have made it even cheaper. For example, the first test for coronavirus detection in any Uttar Pradesh private lab will cost a maximum of ₹2,500.
“The infection can be confirmed in a single step test. In such a situation, those who are not coronavirus positive will have to give only ₹2,500,” Principal Secretary Health Amit Mohan Prasad, had said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has directed that COVID-19 testing in government and private laboratories must be free of cost to all persons under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). Around 11 crore households are covered under PM-JAY which offers free health coverage at the secondary and tertiary level. It offers a medical insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh/family/year.
