The states have welcomed the decision of the government to reduce the cost of the covid-19 testing kit whose price was Rs 2250 to Rs 1500 along with flexibility in the ambulance service rates. The private hospitals have requested the state government for compensation in GST on the covid-19 kits.
“As the state government caps the cost of COVID test at Rs 1,500, we will be implementing it as per the directive, given that these are pandemic times. However, we would also like to present our case before the government to reconsider the rate as this is not financially viable for us, taking into account the cost of reagent, test kit, and infrastructure.”
“Contrary to popular belief, private hospitals have been suffering losses for the last eight months, and this will further affect our condition,” “Yes, we will definitely go by what the state government has decided. We will follow it on humanitarian grounds as we think it’s our social responsibility. But we will also request the government to consider lowering the GST rate on the test kits
The experts have said that providing an exemption of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on products and services being used to fight coronavirus like Medical Test Kits. read more required to conduct the COVID-19 tests just like what has been done for the PPE kits.”
In the current covid-19 pandemic people must take it as their responsibility for the society said Senior physician Dr Syamasis Bandyopadhyay of the Apollo Hospital.
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“There is no option of creating any controversy with this initiative of the state government. We welcome this move. But simultaneously people have to abide by the health protocol and follow precautionary measures to keep the disease at bay,”
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The state cabinet has lowered down the rate of covid-19 tests in private hospitals from Rs 1500 to Rs 2250 by thinking that the infection may spread in the coming festival of Durga Puja. In the consideration of the distance for the transportation covid-19 patients, the West Bengal Clinical Regulatory Commission has appealed from the state for Rs 3000 to be fixed as the charges for the ambulance.
