KATHMANDU: The private laboratories executing the PCR test against COVID-19 have entrusted the responsibility of resolving the dispute related to ‘PCR Test charge’ to the Association of Private Health Institution of Nepal (APHIN).

The private laboratories carrying out PCR test against COVID-19 pandemic has decided to charge Rs 2,000 for the test.

Responding to a dispute related with the PCR test charge collected by the private laboratories, the labs have assigned APHIN, their umbrella organization, the task to determine the new PCR test charge.

APHIN’s Vice President Kumar Thapa informed that the organization has already taken appointment from Ministry of Health and Population for the discussion.

The Ministry has set Rs 2,000 as the upper limit for the PCR test charge. However, monitoring the regulatory division of the Ministry found out that the private labs have been levying Rs 3,899 to 4,400 as the test charge.

After the monitoring report, the ‘Incident Command System’ meeting of the Ministry had directed eight private labs not to take more than Rs 2,000 from Thursday or face ministry’s action.

The private labs had again given time till Saturday and asked the Ministry of Health to reconsider the fee charge.

They had written the Ministry that they could not conduct the PCR test in less than 3,899 rupees per test.