Assembly panel ask govt to reconsider the rates for COVID test

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 9, 2020

The Assembly’s Committee on Women Empowerment on Friday asked the state government to reconsider the rates for COVID-19 test.

This came after the state government has decided to fix Rs 3,200 for RT-PCR, CBNAAT and Truenat while Rs 500 for Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

According to the committee, the rates are comparatively the highest in the country. 

After reviewing the implementation of the MHIS, the CWE chairperson, Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the coverages under the scheme are still very inadequate.

She said the MHIS coverage is only 53.97 percent in East Khasi Hills, which has the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state while in other districts affected by the pandemic like Ri Bhoi and North Garo Hills is at 49.6 percent and 47.35 percent respectively.

“So, if individuals do not have this MHIS coverage (as government has decided that COVID-19 is no longer free from the October 16), there is going to be lot of hue and cry and lots of pressure for the public, if government does not take necessary interventions at the right time,” Lyngdoh said.

She informed that the health department has assured to have a consultation programme with the government departments to ensure these queries put up by the committee are attended to immediately.

Stating that the rates fixed for COVID-19 test in the state are exceptionally on the higher side, Lyngdoh said Rs 3,200 – Rs 3,500 are all very high cost.

“If a family has 14 members, who all have to undergo testing for COVID because of exposure to the disease, you just multiply 14 x Rs 3,300 and see the kind of money required by that family has to take up to ensure this testing is done,” she said.

On the justification given by the health department, she said, “They are saying that the rates are higher in our state because the cost of the testing kits are very high  and now that the ICMR no longer is giving free kits to Meghalaya , the government will now has to pay for the kits.”

Asked, CWE member and Mawsynram MLA, Himalaya Shangpliang said the committee has asked the department and the government not to look at this issue on a commercial basis but to reconsider these rates, which comparatively stand the highest in the country.

“The committee has asked the health department to review the cost of the COVID test and to reconsider the rates or the government can chip in by way of providing subsidy,” he said.