MOUDUD AHMMED SUJAN

Despite a gradual decline in the prices of RT-PCR testing kits in the market, the government has not lowered the cost of the Covid tests at private hospitals and labs since May 2021.

The high cost is also thwarting the efforts to increase testing at a time when the Omicron variant of coronavirus is causing the number of new cases to soar, said experts.

In 2020, a PCR test kit cost between Tk 2,000 and 3,000. But each kit now costs between Tk 145 and 950. Taking into account the operational costs, officials at different private labs said they would still make a profit if they charged Tk 1,500 for each test.

But most of the private health facilities currently charge at least TK 3,000 for a PCR test, while the rate is Tk 2,500 for those about to travel abroad.

“I had Covid symptoms last week. But I did not get tested due to the high cost of tests at private labs. I didn’t go to the government facilities because of the long queues,” said Iqbal Hossain, manager of an apartment building in Tejturi Bazar area.