By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Sept. 30: The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has warned that the approval to conduct Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test given to eight laboratories in the Kathmandu Valley would be revoked if they continued charging a higher amount of fee for the PCR test than that prescribed by the government.

The government, on September 14, had slashed the fee for the PCR test from Rs 4,400 to Rs 2,000.

Disregarding the government's decision, eight laboratories including HAMS Hospital, Decode Laboratory, Intrepid Laboratory, Nepal Mediciti Hospital, CDL, Star Hospital, B & B Hospital and Sooriya Healthcare were found charging higher fees for the PCR test.

Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson of the MoHP, during the regular press briefing today said that on the basis of the report presented by Quality Standard and Regulation Division, the ministry-level Incident Command System had decided to call off the PCR test approval given to the eight laboratories if they do not reduce the test fare within 24 hours.

"As per the decision, the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) has been directed to revoke the approval of these eight laboratories if they continue to ignore," said Dr. Gautam.

Along with revoking the test approval, a letter will be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Commerce to shut down the laboratories, the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, the private hospitals and laboratories have stated that the fee set by the MoHP was too less to conduct the PCR tests. On September 28, eight private hospitals had issued a joint press release stating that they would charge Rs. 3,899 for a PCR test.