To make the tests affordable for the people, the Meghalaya Government has reduced the rates of various COVID19 tests.

An order has been issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner and Secretary to the Health & Family Welfare, said Sampath Kumar in this regard.

Kumar said in continuation of the ‘Policy of Paid Testing’ and in view of the need to make COVID19 tests affordable to the community, the rates of various COVID19 tests being conducted in the state have been revised and fixed.

Earlier, the state government had fixed Rs 3,200 per test if conducted through RT-PCR, TruNaat, and CBNAAT, while Rs 500 per test if conducted through Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

According to the new rates, Kumar said the test through RAT did not change at Rs 500 per test, while Rs 1,000 is being charged through RT-PCR, Rs 1,500 through TruNaat and Rs 3,000 through CBNAAT and these new rates shall be effective from October 29.

“All those who require to be tested at the entry points will be charged as per approved rates. Those who belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households (Yellow & Pink NFSA Cardholders) on medical advice, can avail the testing for free at any of the government facilities only.

“The testing slots shall be subject to availability. Testing in private facility will be on payment basis only.

“All those who have been identified as high risk contact in the containment zones and those advised by the Health Department officials, will be tested free of cost,” Kumar said in his order.

Kumar also informed that any person (including MHIS Cardholders), who desires to get tested with RTPCR/CBNAAT/TruNAT on their own without a medical advice, shall approach facilities for getting tested on payment of the relevant cost of the test.