“Cost limit of 80 euros”

The swab used to make the diagnosis of Covid19 in case of symptoms or close contacts, is still a Lea and is therefore free. From today in Puglia, whoever wants to make a tampon for their personal safety or for other reasons, can do so freely, for a fee.

In fact, the Regional Council has established that the accredited private analysis laboratories of the Sars Cov 2 network are authorized to carry out molecular tests, for asymptomatic subjects who request them for work reasons, for travel reasons and for requests not related to clinical needs and public health already regulated by national and regional measures. The cost is borne by the requesting private entity.

The tests must be carried out in accordance with the specific prescriptions provided by law.
The maximum applicable rate is the one established with DGR 652/2020, that is, 80 euros, pending the corresponding technical table that confirms its adaptation to current market costs. Any positive result of the test must in any case be communicated to the competent Prevention Department by the execution laboratory for the implementation of virus containment actions and for epidemiological analysis.

“In Italy, and therefore also in Puglia – declares the president of the Puglia Region, Michele Emiliano – the swab used for molecular analysis for the diagnosis of Covid is free. It is free when indicated, that is, when there are particular symptoms or the subject is a close contact of a positive. This is the system that keeps all public health in place. It is clear that there are also cases in which a citizen may want to use them regardless of a specific indication or symptoms that make one suspect the infection ”.

“In this case, we thought it was correct to allow Apulians access to accredited private laboratories, to eliminate a doubt or to build their health project and verify their negativity, to respect the Constitution and, therefore, allow everyone, as it happens with other health services such as X-rays or blood tests, to obtain them for free ”, he continues.

“Currently – Emiliano added – the maximum rate that can be applied in these cases is 80 euros, but the city council immediately ordered councilor Pierluigi Lopalco to review this rate, which dates back to the time when the cost of reagents was quite high. high due to the shortage in the market. That is why we are also working to reduce this maximum fee. This does not mean that this fee should necessarily be applied, on the contrary, we hope that accredited private laboratories will be immediately transparent and commensurate with the real costs of performing these analyzes from this point of view ”.

“Today begins my new adventure in the Council of the Puglia Region – said the Councilor for Health Policies Pier Luigi Lopalco – it is a particular moment, it is a critical moment, not only for us Apulians, not only for us Italians, but for all of Europe and for the whole world. In Europe in particular we are in the middle of the second wave and Italy, now following the same fate as other countries close to us, such as the United Kingdom, France, Spain, is currently experiencing the second wave An appeal to all citizens: we must help each other. Those of us who represent public health must help prevent the impact on the hospital system. A system that must continue to function. But we can only achieve the result with the help of all Citizens. Let’s be careful. ”The private laboratories accredited by the Covid Network in the Foggia area are: Center for Clinical and Hormonal Analysis – Foggia; Villani – San Giovanni Rotondo (FG).