PCR Test Price Pegged At Rp450-Rp550 Appropriate Step

JAKARTA - Tourism observer from the Indonesian Tourism Intellectuals Association (ICPI) Azril Azahari assesses that the desire of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to lower the price of PCR tests is correct.

"In my opinion, the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia so that the price of the PCR test is lowered is correct, and this is our wish from the tourism people," said Azril Azahari as quoted by Antara, in Jakarta, Sunday, August 15.

Azril said that the PCR test may be paid for considering that the test requires a laboratory process, but it would be nice if the price of the PCR test was not too expensive and affordable for the public.

He suggested that there are two main keys to recovering the tourism sector which has been affected by the pandemic. First, the need for free antigen testing considering that the price of the test is currently very affordable for the public.

"I think it would be better if the antigen test was free so that people can easily visit tourism destinations, where when tourists are about to enter tourist sites, tourists must undergo a free antigen test before entering the location," said Azril Azahari.

The second key, he said, the recovery of the tourism sector is to accelerate vaccination. He suggested that joint vaccination centers or free vaccination centers could be held in tourism destinations.

This, he continued, in addition to reducing crowds at non-tourism vaccination centers, is expected to accelerate the achievement of herd immunity targets.

"I suggest that if you want to be vaccinated, come to a tourism place so that it can revive tourism destinations. So it means receiving vaccines while traveling," he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo asked that the maximum price for the "PCR" (polymerase chain reaction) test to detect COVID-19 was IDR 550 thousand and the results could be known a maximum of 1 x 24 hours.

The PCR test is a method of examining the SARS CoV-2 virus by detecting viral DNA. WHO also recommends the PCR test method to detect COVID-19.