PCR Test Price Is Lowered To IDR 275 Thousand, PKS Party Call It Still Burdens The Community

Illustration - Commercial airplane mechanic checks the safety of the aircraft cabin before departure of passengers. (ANTARA/HO-GMF Aeroasia/Dewangga).

JAKARTA - The government has again lowered the price of PCR tests to ease the burden on people who want to travel and revive the economic sector.

Previously, the PCR test rate, which was set at around IDR 495 to 550 thousand, is now set to IDR 275.000 in Java and Bali and IDR 300 thousand outside Java-Bali.

However, once again the government is asked to consider the economic conditions of the people who have just begun to crawl after various social restrictions to suppress the spread of COVID-19.

Originally, the PCR test as a condition of travel was considered a policy that burdened the people.

"Although the price has been lowered, the PCR test policy as a travel requirement makes it difficult and burdensome for the people," said Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) RI from the PKS Party Faction Kurniasih Mufidayati to reporters, Friday, October 29.

"PKS is concerned with family problems, the burden of PCR tests as a travel requirement will definitely add to the burden of family shopping costs," she continued.

Furthermore, Mufida said, the PCR test as a condition of travel also had several records. Because, she said, not all regions have infrastructure that is fast in processing PCR results. In fact, the need for travel is the speed in the process.

"PCR takes longer to find out the results. Even though the droplet sampling being tested is valid at the time of the test. So when traveling after the next two days, for example, are the test results still accurate?" explained Mufida.

According to her, this additional burden will have an impact on those who travel more than 3 days. This is because the PCR test results are valid for 3x24 hours.

"Whatever the price, even though it has been reduced by IDR 275 thousand, if the trip is more than 3 days, then you have to do two PCRs to go back and forth, so that it adds to the burden on the community," she said.

Therefore, Mufida emphasized that the aggressiveness of vaccination was more serious in order to minimize the severe impact of COVID-19 transmission.

"The vaccine has been used as a condition for accessing public facilities. Now we have added a PCR requirement for travel. This policy must be reviewed," said Mufida.