West Kalimantan Governor Bang Midji Asks The Private Sector To Lower PCR Prices According To Jokowi's Instructions: If Not, I Will Deploy BUMD

West Kalimantan Governor Sutardmidji/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

PONTIANAK - West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji asked all private parties who carry out PCR and antigen tests to be able to adjust prices that do not burden the public, in accordance with President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) instructions.

"Six months ago, I conveyed the high tariff for PCR and antigens. The maximum PCR tariff should be Rp. 400,000 and Ro125,000 for antigens. This is also in accordance with the president's instructions," said Sutarmidji, who is familiarly called Bang Midji in Pontianak, quoted by Antara, Monday, 16 August.

He explained that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) decided to lower the price of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the diagnosis of the COVID-19 virus and this had been conveyed to the Ministry of Health, where Jokowi asked for the cost of the PCR test to be in the range of Rp. 450,000. up to IDR 550,000.

Meanwhile, currently the highest price for the PCR test in Indonesia is based on the Circular of the Minister of Health of Rp. 900,000, where the limit is stated in the circular letter number HK. 02.02/I/3713/2020 concerning the Highest Tariff Limit for Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Examination dated October 5, 2020.

However, with the high price of PCR, it is in the spotlight because of the news that the price of PCR tests in India is set at 500 rupees or the equivalent of Rp. 96 thousand.

"A very surprising fact. The reason is, the price of PCR tests in Indonesia is much higher than India," he said.

Actually, said Sutarmidji, six months ago, he had conveyed the high rates of PCR and antigens. It should be a maximum of Rp. 400 thousand for PCR and Rp. 125 thousand for antigens.

"I will see first whether the President's instructions regarding PCR rates are responded to or not, otherwise I will prepare BUMD to conduct PCR and antigen tests at rates below Rp. 350 thousand and antigens below Rp. 100 thousand," said Sutarmidji.

He added, for the purposes of tracing and checking, the community was asked to do it at the Puskesmas, Untan laboratory and West Kalimantan Labkesda, because there, there was no charge.

"If someone asks for payment, just report it," said Bang Midji.