Good News From Aceh, There Is No Charge For PCR Tests

Health workers conduct a free COVID-19 Antigen swab test at the Aceh Regional Health Laboratory (Labkesda) in Banda Aceh, Aceh, Friday August 13 (Photo: Ampelsa/Antara)

JAKARTA - The Aceh Government's COVID-19 Task Force (Satgas) stated that the examination of swab samples using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method at government health facilities in the westernmost province of Indonesia was free from the start of the pandemic. "Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, PCR tests in Aceh are free of charge," said the spokesman for the Aceh COVID-19 Task Force, Saifullah Abdulgani in Banda Aceh, as reported by Antara, Monday, August 16. RSUD), the Regional Health Laboratory (Labkesda), and the Indonesian Ministry of Health Research and Development Center in Aceh. The spokesman who is familiarly called SAG added that for patients who have clinical symptoms, then come and be treated at the Zainoel Abidin Hospital in Banda Aceh, they will immediately undergo a PCR examination at the hospital. the red plate hospital, free of charge. As for patients, close contacts of COVID-19 from all hospitals in 23 regencies/cities in the Tanah Rencong area will and undergo a PCR swab examination at the Aceh Regional Health Laboratory (Labkesda) and the Indonesian Ministry of Health Balitbangkes in Aceh. Then, the free PCR swab examination also applies to every traveler from the area nicknamed Veranda of Mecca. " he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo requested that the maximum price for a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to detect COVID-19 be IDR 550 thousand and the results can be known a maximum of 1 x 24 hours. PCR' is in the range of between Rp. 450 thousand to Rp. 550 thousand," said President Jokowi through the "Youtube" channel of the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta, Sunday, August 15. 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. "In addition, I also ask that the results of the PCR test can be known within a maximum of 1 x 24 hours, we need speed," said the President. "One way to increase testing is to lower the price of PCR tests," the President added.