Competition Authority: There is no monopoly on PCR tests from Devul's daughter's lab.

This authority has come out with communiqués about these tests, and has confirmed that the price has been up to 200 euros, but has reasoned it.

This company is owned by businessman Devolli's daughter, Value.

To run tests PCR was licensed only two labs. The UBTA was not working, while the Medical Labartory Services, owned by the Value Devolll, were conducting tests of up to 200 euros.

The AAK, however, says it is not a monopoly because three labs have been licensed to conduct these types of tests.

COMMUNICATIONS: 

One of the main commitments of the Kosovo Competition Authority over the past few weeks has been monitoring the behavior of labs licensed by the Ministry of Health for offering tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

More specifically, the AKK was focused on ensuring that the operators of this market would not conflict with the Competition Protection Law by making any prohibited agreements, co-ordinated practice or abusive behavior.

Since we started the monitoring process, the AKK has requested and collected detailed data from state institutions and licensed labs, including the price of importing material, the price of service delivery and other data. In this case, we would like to stress that the AKK has enjoyed good co-operation with the institutions responsible as well as the labs. From the information we have collected, we find that there are currently 119 licensed labs to provide serological testing, as well as three licensed labs for offering molecular PCR tests.

Currently, two of the labs for molecular PCR tests are operating, while the other operator is in preparation and in a short time will start offering this service. This means that for two tests, there is already a liberalised market, where citizens can choose the most suitable operator for service delivery.

The prices of these services are transparent and vary for serial tests from 15 to 40 euros, while for molecular from 65 euros. Thus, the Authority for Competition in determining the product market has concluded that there is a substitute for product or service.

Subsisting demand is the most direct and efficient factor that limits the independent behavior of companies on the market. The company cannot significantly influence prices if consumers can easily switch to substitute products. We also want to stress that the AKK has followed with added interest the debate on public opinion over the 200-euro price for the PCR test provided by one of the licensed labs.

We've just been notified by the media about this, we've requested additional information and documentation from the lab in question, and we've realized that it's about thepid molecular testing Assay Method. This is an advanced form of molecular testing. RT- The PCR, which gives the same result, the same assessment and the same characteristics as molecular testing. RT- The PCR, but the particular one of this testing is providing results in the shorter term, in less than 2 hours.

However, it must be said that in the same laboratory, citizens have been able to choose the RT- The PCR, which detects the virus in a longer time but costs 65 euros. In fact, from the analysis of the data, we find that 99.7 percent of PCR tests were conducted with RT- PCR (which costs 65 euros) while the rest with the method of rapid molecular testing syy Method, so only 4 tests in many 200 euros or (0.3%)

Of course, the AKK will continue monitoring this market and, as in the past weeks, will announce the media and public opinion about any findings from monitoring this market.