The pricing of Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in Namibia, which are an acceptable standard for COVID-19 testing, especially for international travelling and hospital procedures has now come under spotlight with the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) considering an investigation.
Three top labs in Namibia are charging prices ranging from N$750 to as high as N$900 for a PCR test.
“We currently do not have any ongoing investigation regarding the cost of COVID-19 tests in Namibia. However, it is something that is being considered and the Commission took note of what has transpired in South Africa and will decide on the way forward in due course,” Paulus Hangula, Senior Economist: Enforcement, Exemptions & Cartels at the NaCC told The Brief.
The South African Competition Commission recently found that the country’s largest private pathology laboratories, Ampath, Lancet Laboratories and Pathcare, have been earning significant profits off PCR tests.
Now, two labs, Ampath and Lancet Laboratories have agreed to lower their prices to R500 from R850 with immediate effect as part of a settlement agreement with the South African Competition Commission following the damning findings that private laboratories had “exploited consumers by earning excessive profits on essential products or services.”
Ministry of Health Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, said the ministry was concerned about the existing pricing regime of PCR tests following developments in neighbouring South Africa.
“We are aware of the developments in South Africa and of course we are concerned as a lot of money is being spent on tests. If there is a cost saving to be made, then it’s something that might need to be looked into,” he told The Brief.
“Of course, the price as we have been informed is based on a number of factors but it might be something that we might now need to engage on.”
According a complaint lodged by the Council for Medical Schemes in South Africa, with the country’s Competition Commission in October, it alleged that the price of PCR tests was “unfairly inflated”, “exorbitant” and “unjustifiable”, and prices of tests have remained persistently high despite private laboratories experiencing substantial cost reductions in conducting the tests.
