₹2,200, other states continue to have variable rates NEW DELHI : The Centre is considering slashing the price cap further for covid-19 testing at private hospitals and diagnostic centres to make it affordable for the masses.
In March, it had first appealed to private laboratories to offer free testing, but subsequently capped the price at ₹4,500.However, in May, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had removed the price cap and asked states and Union territories to negotiate with private laboratories for “mutually agreeable" rates.In June, the apex biomedical research body said the private sector should further lower the costs as reagents and testing material were being sourced locally and not imp-orted as was the case.