The test should be available to all residents of Russia.
According to the press service of St. Petersburg City Council, deputies of the Northern Capital asked the Ministry of Health to control the cost of PCR-tests and medications for treatment and prevention of coronavirus.
According to information of Chairman of City Council Alexander Belsky, cost of kits for PCR-tests in pharmacies is 646-3000 rubles and paid analysis in laboratories costs St. Petersburg citizens no less than 1200 rubles. Prices are constantly rising, which is unacceptable in the midst of another wave of pandemics.
According to deputies, this problem is also typical for other regions of Russian Federation. The Federal Antimonopoly Service is responsible for this issue; however, it requires the active participation of other bodies.
According to Belsky, there is no place for profit interests of pharmaceutical and medical organizations in the fight against the pandemic. The growth of covid disease can be avoided only if all detected cases are diagnosed, prevented and treated in time. For this purpose, drugs and tests should be available to all Russians, regardless of income.