Is It Possible to Get Free Coronavirus Tests Done in India
Updated On Apr 19, 2021
Coronavirus is a class of viruses, and it gets its name from the ciliary-like protein projections on its surface. The novel coronavirus causes a disease called the Covid-19. The World Health Organisation has declared this disease as a pandemic in 2020.
To fight this disease and stall it's spread effectively, the government is taking many steps. The prominent among them was the caller-tune message, the availability of PPEs for the doctors, doctors' availability at every nook and corner, and effective testing to generate the correct idea of the spread.
The government has set up a lot of test centers with the hospitals they have partnered with. There are also test centers in the state and government-run hospitals. Many collection centers then collect the patients' samples and send them to the authorized lab for further testing.
What is the COVID-19 Testing Scenario in India?
The government-approved center or the government-run centers are doing tests, and they are doing it for free. The private testing centers and hospitals are charging some amount to get you tested for Covid-19.
What is The Criteria To Get Tested For Covid-19?
The government is providing free of cost test facilities, but keeping in mind India's population, they are overrun with a lot of samples to be tested. The government has a clause for this free testing. If you have any symptoms of the diseases, you can get tested, if you have come in contact with any confirmed patient, you can get tested, or if you have a travel history, you can get tested.
Apart from the above- given scenarios, the free testing provided by the government is not applicable. If you still desire to get tested, you must go to a private hospital, and that part is explained later in this article.
The method to get tested is as follows:
- Connect to the respective authorities by dialing their toll-free helpline number -1075.
- Inform the person about your symptoms, travel history (if any), or contact with a suspicious patient.
- If you are deemed necessary to be tested, then you would be directed towards your nearest government run hospital.
- Your sample would be collected here and would be sent for testing free of charge.
What is the Method for Private Testing?
The disease is such that not everyone who has it displays the symptoms. Contact tracing is also not that much possible, and even if you may not have traveled, but directly or indirectly, you would have come in contact with someone who has. This suspicion that builds up in mind is very troublesome and leads to anxiety, and the government agencies are not getting involved until you fulfill their criteria. The private facilities have come up, to cater to this problem, and people do not need a reason or symptom to get tested at these private facilities. The upper cap of the charge for a Covid-19 test has been kept at Rs. 4500.
You May Also Like To Read: Covid-19 Health Insurance Policies
Conclusion
The government has no doubt provided a testing solution for the disease, but a few criteria need to be fulfilled to avail of that service. On the other hand, the private avenues charge you for the test, but they do not have any prerequisites. The government has worked there as well to keep the charges of the test reasonable.
Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.
