Jokowi Asks For PCR Test Prices To Be IDR 300 Thousand, DPR: It's About Humanity, Everyone Wants Cheap If It Can Be Free

PCR test/ANTARA test laboratory

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the DPR, Alifudin, asked the government to be serious in reviewing the rules for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test as a mandatory requirement for passengers of transportation modes, including the question of price.

He appreciated President Joko Widodo's order to slowly lower the price of PCR tests. Most recently, Jokowi asked for a limit price of IDR 300,000.

However, according to him, the price of the PCR test should be even cheaper. The reason is that Alifudin suspects that there are parties who take advantage of requests for PCR tests and are used as business fields by laboratory entrepreneurs.

"From the start, we have made a big profit, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is about humanity. It's good that everyone who wants PCR can get an even cheaper price, if it is free," said Alifudin, Wednesday, October 27.

The PKS politician assesses that the price of Rp. 300,000 which is currently being discussed by the government is the same as the proposal from the Governor of West Kalimantan and the Ministry of Health last August. Therefore, the test price should be cheaper.

"The president should be able to make it even cheaper, for example lowering the price of PCR to Rp. 75,000 like an antigen," said Alifudin.

In order not to be used by certain parties, Alifudin also asked the government to take firm action against laboratories that charge a high price for PCR tests. According to him, the government must also check all laboratories so that the time for the test results to come out is evened out, so that there are no more economy or express classes.

"After the recess, we will ask the leadership of Commission IX to call the relevant parties that the COVID-19 pandemic is not used as a business field for certain parties," he said.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said President Joko Widodo had asked for the price of the PCR test to be reduced to Rp. 300,000.

"The president's directive is that the PCR price can be lowered to Rp. 300,000 and is valid for 3x24 hours for plane trips," Luhut Luhut said in a press conference via the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel, Monday, October 25.