The cost of the Covid-19
PCR tests in Bali has been significantly reduced as recently instructed by the
President.
Dr. Ketut Suarjaya, the Head of the Bali Health
Agency, revealed that in accordance to President Jokowi's recent directive via
his official YouTube channel, Bali officials have chosen to decrease the cost
of their PCR test as one of the measures to improve the economy during the
pandemic. “I recommended to the Health Minister that the cost of a PCR swab
test be reduced to about USD 31 (IDR 450,000), with a maximum of USD 38
(550,000).” On Sunday (15/8), Jokowi stated.
As a consequence, Dr. Suarjaya stated that the price
of a PCR test in Bali has just been decreased to USD 34. (IDR 495,000). “We
have now revised the new PCR test pricing to USD 32.70 (IDR 475,000) plus a USD
1.30 (IDR 20,000) administrative charge, thus the total cost for Indonesian
citizens will be USD 34 (IDR 495,000).” According to Dr. Suarjaya. Aside from
the cost, officials promised that individuals would obtain the results of the
test within 24 hours at the most.
Prior to its implementation, many people criticized
the government for the high cost of PCR testing in Indonesia, compared to other
Asian nations such as India, where individuals only had to pay approximately
USD 6.60 (IDR 96,000) for a PCR swab test. As a result, people are requesting
the government to lower the tax on their Covid-19 test price as a gesture of
assistance for its people during this crisis.