Aug 11, Colombo: The Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi has stated that the Ministry of Health will take steps to regulate the fees charged for PCR and antigen tests performed by private sector hospitals to identify those infected with the Covid-19 due to the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.

The Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi today (11) stated that steps will be taken to issue the relevant gazette notification to regulate these prices of the tests tomorrow (12) following a special discussion with Lasantha Alagiyawanna, State Minister of Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection at the Ministry of Health.

The Minister of Health expressing her views said "As people's representatives and government, we must do justice to the people of this country.”

Accordingly, after holding a number of discussions between the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the Ministry of Health, the prices for the tests were recommended by the Ministry of Health.

“The maximum price that the private sector can charge for a PCR test is Rs. 6,500 and the maximum price for an antigen test is Rs. 2,000. Accordingly, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs will publish it in a gazette tomorrow. Since then those prices will be in effect in this country and we have done justice to the customer,” the Minister said.

Lasantha Alagiyawanna, State Minister of Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection stated that PCR tests and antigen tests are being carried out on the Covid virus these days by the private sector and

The Ministry and the Consumer Affairs Authority conducted investigations throughout the island and since customers have lodged many complaints regarding the price and the quality of these tests, the Ministry of Health and the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) conducted inquiries throughout the island.

He said the CAA officers investigated the pricing of PCR and antigen tests in 45 hospitals in 21 districts. According to their investigations, Rs. 5,500-9,750 was charged for PCR tests and Antigen tests cost between 2,000 and 5,550 rupees.

“This is an injustice done to the consumers. Accordingly, after a lengthy calculation by the Ministry of Health, the Minister of Health took action to recommend to me the prices,” Mr. Alagiyawanna said.

“Special thanks to the Ministry of Health for giving priority to this and recommending prices in a very short period of time,” the State Minister added.