jpnn.com, JAKARTA - The government's plan to lower the price of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Covid-19 test to Rp 300,000 is noticed by former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti.
Susi said the price was still high for Indonesians.
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Susi compared this with the figure in India, which sets the price to only around Rp 96,000.
"The PCR price will apply to all modes of transportation. Can the price be like India's?" Susi wrote on Twitter on Tuesday (26/10).
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"Why do we in Indonesia have to pay four times, even six to 10 times [higher]? [...] India's PCR test is only Rp 96,000. Why is the price in Indonesia so exorbitant?" Susi added.
In her previous tweet, Susi Pudjiastuti also encouraged House Speaker Puan Maharani to take a stand to represent the people's voice.
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"Come on, Mbak Puan… represent us, the community. Even if PCR is mandatory, the price should be decent," she wrote on Monday.
Regarding President Joko Widodo's plan to lower the PCR price to Rp. 300,000, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono said his party had been working on this.
"Bapak President, of course, has obtained information and calculated about how much the reagents cost, how much the inspection costs, and how much capacity we can carry out for PCR tests," said Dante in South Jakarta, Tuesday (26/10). (rdo/mcr20/jpnn)
This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: Sebut Harga PCR Rp 300 Ribu Sangat Mahal, Susi Minta Bantuan Mbak Puan