Entrepreneurs In West Java Complain About The High Price Of PCR Tests In Indonesia: It's Only IDR 130 Thousand In India

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The West Java Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) complained about the high price of COVID-19 tests such as the PCR swab test to track residents exposed to COVID-19 in Indonesia.

"So 3T or Testing, Tracing and Treatment can actually be one of the most important keys to do, however, access to do this testing is still very low. This is due to very expensive testing costs", said Chairman of Apindo West Java Ning Wahyu Astutik, quoted from Antara, Monday, August 2.

Her party compared the price of the PCR swab test in India which is much cheaper than in Indonesia. According to Ning, the price for PCR swab testing in India in rupiah is only IDR 130 thousand, while in Indonesia it can reach IDR 750 thousand.

"If the PCR swab test is cheap, what about the antigen test? It's definitely cheaper", she said.

She said that 3T efforts can reduce the spread of the coronavirus and this is a very important key that the government must do and support from various parties.

Furthermore, Ning said that when the price of the COVID-19 test is cheaper and the results are good, the public will have convenience when they want to do the test independently.

"And when the number of testing participants increases, automatic tracking is easier. So those who are exposed can be detected earlier, and can have a greater chance of being cured", he said.

He said in addition to 3T, COVID-19 vaccination must also be accelerated to the whole community, and access to workers, in particular, must be more massive so that the economic sector can survive in the midst of the crushing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"And we ask that access for employees or workers to get this vaccination can be made easier by the government", said Ning.