Karnataka Government Caps Cost of COVID-19 Tests By Private Laboratories At Rs 2,250

The Health Department of Karnataka Government on Friday (17 April) issued the directions to cap the cost of suspected COVID-19 testing by private laboratories in the State at Rs 2,250, reports Times of India.

The notification of the order also mentioned that private laboratories are allowed to test samples for COVID-19, given they meet the requirements and protocols laid down by the Central government.

Making the development public, the Health and Family Welfare Department's Additional Chief Secretary Jawaid Akhtar underscored that there is an urgent need to add more private laboratories to the network of facilities testing COVID-19.

Akhtar also shared that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has already approved 16 laboratories of the State to test the samples of COVID-19, of which 11 are Government-run, and five are privately-run.

As per the data made public by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka has 359 cases of COVID-19 so far, of which 89 have been successfully cured or discharged, while 13 have been reported dead.