According to the Health Ministry's data, the price of PCR test in Indonesia is lesser than that in some Asian countries, such as Thailand, with one PCR swab test costing Rp1.3 million-Rp2.8 million. Meanwhile, the PCR swab test service in Singapore costs SGD160, or Rp1.5 million.
On the contrary, India receives full subsidies from its government as well as the PCR swab test equipment, including reagents, and self-produced medicine.
"If only Indonesia could produce reagents and PCR swab test components, then the price could be surely controlled and be cheaper," epidemiologist Dicky Gunawan noted in an official statement on Tuesday.
Gunawan later noted that the current obstacle faced in reducing the price of PCR in Indonesia was the imported reagents and other components as well as the high investment costs, especially the laboratory equipment deployed.
Earlier, 56,747 active cases had been recorded per day at the end of July. Currently, the daily case count stands at around 20 thousand.
The periodic emergency community restriction (PPKM Darurat) had a significant impact on lowering the number of daily cases. The reduction in the price of PCR tests and public awareness to conduct independent checks through Antigen Swab and PCR Swab Tests also helped to curb the spread of COVID-19.
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Translator: Maria C, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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