Coordinating Minister For PMK Affirms There Are Sanctions For Violators Of The Rapid Test Price Limit

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy emphasized that there would be sanctions for hospitals or health facilities that set a rapid test price of above IDR 150 thousand.

The Ministry of Health has issued a circular number HK.02.02 / I / 2875/2020 which contains the highest rate for rapid antibody tests of IDR 150 thousand, so that hospitals or health facilities do not take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The sanctions vary. There is a stern warning sanction. Then maybe stricter action can be taken. It will be regulated later," Muhadjir said in a press conference for the launch of the domestically made rapid test at the Coordinating Ministry for PMK Office, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Thursday. , July 9th.

Meanwhile, when asked further about the sanctions, he said this was the authority of the security apparatus. "There is an authority outside the Ministry of Health. I think there will be the apparatus itself to enforce the existing rules," he said.

Currently, the government is also continuing its efforts to reduce the maximum cost of the rapid test to below IDR 150 thousand. To make this effort a success, the Coordinating Ministry for PMK together with the Ministry of Research and Technology / National Research and Innovation Agency and the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) then launched a domestically made rapid test.

"The cost of this domestically-made rapid test is Rp75 thousand," said Muhadjir.

Menristek BRIN Bambang Brodjonegoro introduced RI-GHA and said this product would be able to compete with imported rapid test products. "I am sure the domestic products will be cheaper, the rapid test will be able to compete, and we are ready to slam the price if there are foreign products that are lowering our prices," he said.

The virus testing kit is targeted to be produced in July as many as 200 thousand units and will increase twice that number in the following month. To achieve this target, Bambang said that his party will add production partners to RI-GHA. Because currently, there are only two production partners for the testing equipment, namely PT Hepatika Matrama and Prodia Laboratory.

This testing tool has the advantage of being more practical and faster. Because, one test only takes 15 minutes.

Previously, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Bambang Wibowo, said the price of rapid tests needed to be regulated because the market varied and confused people. This rule is expected to prevent certain individuals from seeking profit amid the pandemic.

"The varying prices for carrying out the rapid test cause confusion in the community. Therefore, the government's participation in the antibody rapid test is needed so that people do not feel that they are being used for profit," Bambang said in a circular quoted by VOI, Tuesday, July 7 evening.

The circular letter was copied to the Minister of Health, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, and the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). In it are listed four important points, one of which is related to pricing.

Then, the examination may only be carried out by competent health workers who come from health service facilities.

At the last point, it contains notification to all health facilities to follow tariff limits. "So that health service facilities or parties providing antibody rapid test examination services can comply with the highest tariff limits set," said a circular letter.