Neuberg Diagnostics has been doing COVID – 19 tests free of costs

MUMBAI, 09th April 2020 (GNI): Neuberg Diagnostics has been doing COVID – 19 tests free of costs for all from its Bangalore lab (Neuberg Anand) and for BPL patients from its Chennai (Neuberg Ehrlich), Pune (Neuberg A.G diagnostics), and Ahmedabad (Neuberg Supratech Micropath) labs from day one. We are already processing tests free of costs for government referred samples at all locations. We at Neuberg, appreciate the Supreme Court intervention to make Covid19 testing accessible and affordable to all.

We have already processed close to 300 free samples in Bangalore.  We have also, accepted to process over 500 samples in Chennai and over 1000 samples in Ahmedabad, free of cost for the State governments.  We are in discussions with the Government to offer the same service in Pune. We at Neuberg consider COVID 19 testing as our social responsibility and not a revenue generating activity.

We are also of the opinion that the Government or Corporates, through their CSR funds, should reimburse Rs 2000 – Rs 2500 per test, to the private labs so that their materials costs are recovered. Alternatively, ICMR or State Governments should provide testing kits, sample collection materials and PPE for private labs to do free testing. Also, MRP for PCR kits, RNA extraction kits, VTM sample tubes should be fixed. We feel this initiative from the Government will drive free testing more effectively and will be welcomed by all private labs.  Given the current situation, the routine business of all Private labs have fallen by 70%- 80% and facilitating free Covid-19 testing must be supported by Government.

Complying with the Supreme Court order, we have made testing free in our Chennai (Neuberg Ehrlich), Ahmedabad (Neuberg Supratech) and Pune (Neuberg A.G diagnostics) from today. Bangalore (Neuberg Anand), has been and will continue offering Covid 19 testing free for all without any discrimination using funds from charitable trusts. While we wait for further orders and directions from the Supreme Court and Government of India we do hope other corporate companies and NGOs also join Neuberg in their mission to provide free testing for all in Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Pune where our group has ICMR approved RT PCR testing facilities, according to the press statement issued.ends