Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – State-owned pharmaceutical company Kimia Farma has slashed the price of polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test for Covid-19 to Rp 495,000 (about $34) in all its clinics, following the Health Ministry's new circular on the price cap on PCR tests.

"Kimia Farma immediately carried out the government's instruction on lowering the PCR test price as part of our commitment to provide the best service for the Indonesian people," Kimia Farma president director Verdi Budidarmo said in a statement on Wednesday.

Kimia Farma Diagnostika acting director Agus Chandra on Monday said, "in addition to lowering the PCR test costs to Rp 495,000, we are also slashing the price for swab/rapid antigen tests."

The Health Ministry recently issued a circular on the ceiling price for reserve transcription PCR (RT-PCR), which takes effect starting on August 17.

The circular slashes the PCR tests costs from Rp 900,000 to Rp 495,000. The price for regular antigen swab tests is also cut from Rp 190,000 to Rp 85,000. Abbot Panbio antigen swab tests, which used to be Rp 190,000, now costs Rp 125,000.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/kimia-farma-slashes-pcr-test-price-to-3