BCCL
Source:BCCL
Even though the government was initially offering Covid-19 testing for free, the sudden surge in cases after the Nizamuddin hotspot has the centre rethinking its stance. One test can cost as much as ₹4,500. However, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to continue offering the tests for free.
Students at the IIT-Delhi have developed a new kit that could considerably lower those prices, making it cheaper for the government to procure them.
The testing kit is currently undergoing trials at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. They have not disclosed the cost difference as of now but if successful it can help the country the mounting financial stress of surge in healthcare spending.