Guiyang, the capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, recently started price management for nucleic acid testing with the possible highest charge set at 130 yuan ($19.89) per person.
According to the notice released by Guiyang's development and reform commission, finance bureau and healthcare security bureau, the price includes consumable materials, diagnostic reagents and extraction reagents; no other fees can be levied.
The notice requires all the disease control, testing and medical institutions to ensure that they do not exceed the maximum price of 130 yuan. Members of the public should also be informed of the cost before a nucleic acid test is administered.
The charging standards at third party private testing institutions will be settled according to the market and will take effect after being publicized to the public.
All of the institutions providing nucleic acid testing service should showcase the charging criteria, charging standards, related regulations and the complaint phone number (12315) in a prominent, easy-to-see location on-site.
Increasing testing fees or charging for forced services is not allowed.