Curb overcharging for Covid tests, NPPA tells state DCA

HYDERABAD: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, under the director general of health services, has directed the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to prevent overcharging for Covid-19 tests. The NPPA, in turn, directed the Telangana drugs control administration to take necessary action.
Following a complaint against a Kukatpally-based diagnostic centre by city-based activist Sai Teja, these directions were issued.Teja also alleged that they are not providing the GST bill to patients and are fleecing them. He attached a bill alleging the diagnostic centre had charged Rs 2,700 for a test at the centre.
Speaking to TOI, Teja said, “As per GO issued by the state, a person can be charged Rs 2,200 for Covid-19 test when he goes to the diagnostic centre and Rs 2,800 if the sample is collected from home.”
Covid-19 tests have been charged above the cap across the city. Rajesh Kumar, who lives in Himayathnagar and got a test done recently for himself, said: “I was charged Rs 3,200 for the test when the sample was collected from home. I did not know what the charge was and since I was desperate to finish with the test, I just paid up.”
Sharing a similar grouse, Shanti A from Kukatpally said she was charged Rs 3,000. “The sample was collected at home, since the extra amount charged over the cap was minimal, I did not think too much about it.”