It reasons the stratospheric price of the Devoll Kid Lab: It's a quick test, results received in an hour.

On Saturday it was reported that PCR tests for Sars- The CoV-2 in the private laboratory licensed in Pristina is costing up to 200 euros. It's the “Medical & Laboratory Services” laboratory, which is owned by Blerim Devolit's daughter. But, the Health Ministry today has come up with a clarification following numerous reactions to the lab “Medical”.

In its explanation, she reasoned with the laboratory, saying that the test that was performed in this laboratory is another kind of more expensive and depends on the citizens whether they want to do it or not.

“in the private health institution that offers molecular tests, according to information provided, test PCR costs 65 euros, while next test The PCR (genex video test), whose results are released within 45-60 minutes to 200 euros. It's totally citizen-right whether I'm going to choose to run a serial test or a PCR test, as well as the price I'm going to pay”, says the explanation of the N.A.

This ministry has so far failed to increase the number of PCR tests in public labs, while licensed 118 private institutions, two of which for PCR. The UBT college laboratory has not yet started with tests because it has failed to implement the event in line with the license it has received.

This laboratory, located at the headquarter of Kosovo, Pristina, as reported exclusively the Express newspaper days ago, is owned by businessman Blerim Devolli's daughter. But worth 200 euros for a test The PCR has made several serious legal violations. As a result, it may even be provisionally closed up to six months, as could be punished by 10% of the annual circulation. That's what they've been doing for Expresss, officials of the Competition Authority. From there they say that the investigation has begun.

Full MSH communication:

Pristina, August 30th 2020

The Board for License of Private Health Institutions of the Health Ministry under the license of the SARS testing service COV-2 has so far licensed to 118 private institutions this service.

Of them, service is licensed in 116 institutions for SRS serial testing. -COV 2, until 2 institutions have permitted service for molecular testing for SARS -COV 2, testing method PCR, respectively.

The criteria for testing this service are detailed in two relevant administrative guidelines, as follows:

In addition, the MS has enabled serological testing to be conducted even at the level of Primary Space Care for what the changes needed in the appropriate administrative instruction have been made.

You have known that testing as a process in the private sector has its sensitivity, the Ministry of Health has invited the Kosovar Competition Authority from the beginning of the process to monitor closely the prices of serial and molecular testing in the private sector, since the MS as authority does not have the competence and legal basis for it to define the prices of these services.

During this week, on August 28th 2020, the Kosovar Competition Authority (AKK) has held the conference on media monitoring prices for Coronavirus testing in private labs and AKK officials have stated at this conference that “are constantly monitoring prices at 118 licensed labs and that they have not found any service that could run against the power legislation regulating the market in the country<2>.

The AKK, it also stated that “has failed to identify any behavior of these services that might conflict with the Competition Authority and that they have rejected no complaints from citizens for any irregularities”.

However, since, in social networks primarily, citizens have voiced complaints about the prices of testing services for Covid 19 in the private sector, the Health Ministry will insist that the AKK and ATK continue with monitoring the situation, respectively, prices in private labs, while the health inspectorate will oversee the implementation of health legislation in these institutions.

There is information that has price differences related to serological testing services (from 15 to 30 euros) depending on the institution where it is performed and the municipality, while at the moment the molecular test (PCR) provides one of the two licensed institutions, because one of them has failed to prove that I can run tests in line with the data stated in the license application form and in accordance with the Declaration signed with the application case.

In the private health institution offering molecular tests, according to information provided, the test PCR costs 65 euros, while next test The PCR (genex video test), whose results are released within 45-60 minutes to 200 euros.

It's totally citizen-right whether I'm going to choose to run a serial test or a PCR test as well as the price I'm going to pay.

No institution has the right to have its citizens pay more than the stated price and for which it should inform in advance.

Since MS does not specify the prices of these services, it has encouraged citizens from the beginning of the process before they are tested to ask about the kind of testing they will make, the importance and value, the differences between tests and, also, the price they will pay.

They have been called on to address any controversial remarks to the Health Inspectorate and the Kosovo Competition Authority.

At the same time, MS asks from I Licensed times for conducting SARS testing service COV-2 (molecular and serological) to be careful and not misuse the situation at the expense of citizens and inform them before testing with all the necessary details.

In the meantime, we remember that IKSHPK continues to conduct free molecular testing for citizens, according to recommended and priority categories such as:

All hospitalized cases at the Infectious Clinic, other clinics and units in the service of COVID-19 patients;

The patients instructed by KPSH with severe respiratory infections;

There were health personnel with signs and symptoms of infection and personnel with close and vulnerable contact with confirmed SARS COV-2;

The nearby contacts of the 19 positive COVID person with signs and symptoms of COVID-19

▪ Older persons and chronically ill people (invasive lung disease, cancer, heart failure, cerbrovascular disease, renal disease, liver disease, hypertension, diabetes, and immunocommising state);

Kosovo citizens travelling for medical treatment abroad with valid medical documentation.

Until people are tested asimptomatics, but they are directed to self-implification for 14 days with self-preservative monitoring of the situation and in case of symptoms, to seek medical assistance immediately.

MS will continue to create as many opportunities as possible to increase the number of tests, based on laws in power and will give full support to monitoring institutions and testing care supervisors both in the public sector and in private.