Rapid RT-PCR test rate capped at Rs 1,975 at Mumbai airport

Last week, Health Minister Rajesh Tope had IRS officer Dr. Sudhakar Shinde to regulate the prices of the Rapid RT PCR tests at Mumbai International Airport.

After multiple complaints about passengers being overcharged for rapid RT-PCR testing at Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) reached the state health department, the fares have been revised with a maximum cap of Rs 1,975 per test.

The government resolution, issued Tuesday evening, said the tariffs would apply from Wednesday.

Last week, Health Minister Rajesh Tope had IRS officer Dr. Sudhakar Shinde to regulate the prices of the Rapid RT PCR tests at Mumbai International Airport.

Shinde told The Indian Express on Tuesday: "These rates have been established after a thorough analysis of input costs and discussion with stakeholders. They will take effect from Wednesday.

dr. Shinde heads the state price regulation committee and the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya mission.

There was no comment from MIAL despite messages being sent to them. Mumbai airport used to charge Rs 4,500 for each test of Rapid RT PCR, which was reduced to Rs 3,900 after repeated reminders from the state, while Tope wanted the rates to be lower.

The government resolution said the test done using Abbot ID and thermo fisher accula will be capped at Rs 1,975 per test while the one using Tata MD 3 Gene Fast will be capped at Rs 975 for tests conducted at airports or train stations, bus stops, hospitals, quarantine clinics, fever clinics, laboratories (where consumables are carried by laboratories.

These tests take 15 to 45 minutes to determine whether a passenger is Covid positive or not.

On December 7, Additional Chief Secretary of the state health department Dr Pradeep Vyas informed the Union health department additional secretary Arti Ahuja that the rates of Rapid RT-PCR tests at the MIAL run by Adani Airports were too high.