New Delhi: There is a vast difference in the cost of rapid RT-PCR tests at international airports and government airports managed by private institutions to detect cases of Covid-19. For example, the cost of a rapid RT-PCR test at Kozhikode airport is Rs 1,580, while the rates at Mumbai and Hyderabad airports are 2.5 times Rs 3,900. The difference in the cost of tests at both airports is so high even though the prices were reduced by 13.3% after the intervention of the state government. People travel the most from four major international airports- Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. According to the data of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), 12.23 lakh passengers arrived at these four airports in October. A total of 22.22 lakh passengers came to India this month. At the same time, Kozhikode received 1.45 lakh, Goa 9,565, Kolkata 34,076, and Chennai 1.57 lakh passengers.
According to a report in the English newspaper The Indian Express, the major reason behind the high prices for the RT-PCR test is being told that the companies managing the airport are taking 30-35 percent share in it as revenue. However, revenue is not being charged at government airports. After the Omicron variant, the Center has made the RT-PCR test mandatory for all travelers coming from ‘at risk’ countries. These include European countries apart from South Africa, China, etc.
Why is there so much difference between normal RT-PCR and rapid test?
Rs 750 for the RT-PCR test of Covid-19 at Hyderabad airport, while the cost of rapid RT-PCR test is Rs 3,900. The price of rapid RT-PCR was recently reduced from Rs 4,500 earlier. Similarly, in Mumbai, the cost of rapid RT-PCR tests is Rs 3,900, but this too was reduced from Rs 4,500 last week after the intervention of the state government. The normal RT-PCR cost at Mumbai airport is Rs 600. Last week, the Maharashtra government had written to the Union Health Ministry asking it to speedily bring the RT-PCR test fees to par.
According to the report, according to an official managing the airport, the cost of normal RT-PCR is fixed by the government, but the cost of rapid RT-PCR test is decided by the clinical lab. For example, at the Delhi airport, Genstrings Diagnostics conducts tests. Sources said the Delhi airport has been asked by the civil aviation ministry to accommodate more labs. Delhi airport is operated by GMR. Apart from Delhi, GMR also operates Hyderabad’s international airport. Here a company named MapMyGenome investigates.
How is it in Mumbai, Ahmedabad?
According to the newspaper, there are three labs at the Mumbai airport operated by the Adani Group. Which includes Lifnity, Suburban Diagnostics, and AQ-MD (Mylabs). Along with this, Northstar Pathology Labs works at Ahmedabad airport. In Ahmedabad, the cost of a simple RT-PCR test is Rs 400, while the cost of a rapid RT-PCR is Rs 2,700. The prices of the Rapid RTPCR tests are high not only at private airports but also at airports operated by AAI. The rapid test costs Rs 2,900 at the Kolkata airport after the price has been reduced twice.
This difference between the prices of normal RT-PCR and rapid RT-PCR tests is also on the basis of time. According to the information received from the website of Mumbai Airport, the results of the normal RT-PCR tests take up to 8-10 hours, while the results of the rapid RT-PCR test are available within 1-2 hours. However, the airport has also stated that ‘due to increased investigation, there may be a slight delay in the report.’
