Health ministry issues new price cap on COVID-19 testing

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health has issued new guidelines on the cost of testing for SAR-CoV- 二, which comes into effect on Monday.

The document sets out the price regulation for SAR-CoV- 二 testing conducted at State-owned medical facilities, a process that includes taking and preserving samples, performing tests, and announcing the result.

According to the new circular, rapid antigen testing is capped at VNĐ 七 八,000 (US$ 三. 四0) per test,  三0 per cent lower than before. 

Previously, the cost for rapid testing was set at VNĐ 一0 九, 七00 (US$ 四. 八0). 

Meanwhile, COVID- 一 九 testing using automated or semi-automated i妹妹unoassay analysers is set at VNĐ 一 七 八, 九00 (US$ 七. 八0) per test, a slight drop from the previous price of VNĐ 一 八 六, 六00 (US$ 八. 一0).

For real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, the price cap is VNĐ 五0 一, 八00 (US$ 二 二), also a decrease from VNĐ 五 一 八, 四00 (US$ 二 二. 七0) in the past.

The pricing structure consists of the direct cost of taking and preserving samples, performing tests, and issuing results, plus a salary payment for medical staff.

It also includes the costs of testing reagents, according to actual use and purchase price in accordance with laws. 

The new guidelines are applicable to cases in which SAR-CoV- 二 testing fees are covered by the health insurance fund; people who pay for their tests themselves or are paid for by the State budget, according to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.

It is not applicable to COVID- 一 九 tests in the co妹妹unity which has already been covered by the State budget. 

Việt Nam's new caseload has been witnessing a sharp increase in the past few weeks, with the rolling seven-day average now reaching  三 四, 六 九 六.

In December last year, the director of Việt Á Technologies and several officials have been arrested and prosecuted for their involvement in the case of . — VNS