Shavendra asks pvt. labs not to fleece public

PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests

Army Commander and the Head of the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19, General Shavendra Silva said that a large number of complaints had been received about private hospitals that were charging exorbitant amounts for rapid antigen and PCR tests.

Gen. Silva said that some of those private organisations had also not taken stipulated action after persons tested positive for the coronavirus.

He said so during a meeting among the Director General of Health Services, senior officials of the Health Ministry, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and private sector laboratory /private hospital administrators.

“We have only authorised 30 laboratories to carry out such tests. We had to take these steps because initially there were many issues with test results. One could test positive in one lab and negative in another. We have also stipulated standard charges. Only these should be levied for such tests. It is much better if those existing price ranges can be further reduced for the benefit of the public.”

The Head of the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the Spread of COVID-19 urged private sector health administrators not to abuse the opportunity they had got to carry out tests. He said health authorities allowed private sector hospitals to conduct antigen and PCR tests on tourists from Ukraine as a pilot project.

“It is obligatory for the private sector to make those who come for antigen and PCR tests wait until the release of their results, but this is not done. We have a lot of complaints. We have been told that nothing has been done even after a person is tested positive for COVID-19. The Health authorities are not informed of such positive cases and private hospitals have a habit of releasing these people as soon as possible.” (RK)