The high demand for tests for Covid-19 earlier this year led to a series of complaints of abusive prices, according to the São Paulo Procon, which started an inspection for these tests this Friday (14).
“Operation Test Covid-19″ – Without Abuses” encompasses pharmacies, hospitals and laboratories. Among the information requested by the authorities is the type of test performed and whether the amount is covered by health plans or paid in full by the consumer.
On January 10 and 11, together, the number of tests for Covid-19 carried out in pharmacies was over 150 thousand, with a positivity rate of 36.63%, according to the Brazilian Association of Pharmacy and Drugstore Chains (Abrafarma) .
The association also stated that the number of positive diagnoses in pharmacies in the first week of January has already surpassed the entire month of December 2021. In addition, the number of tests carried out is five times higher than the month of November.
Companies will also have to submit invoices from November last year to January this year informing the price paid for the products and how much the consumer paid, in addition to how many tests were applied each month and whether they were covered by health plans.
The Procon of São Paulo also questioned the establishments and the average waiting time for scheduling the exams, the amount received by health plan operators and whether pharmacies, hospitals and laboratories are no longer covered by any plan.
The response period is seven days. With the analysis of the responses, Procon will be able to establish whether there was an abusive price increase in tests for Covid or not.
On Thursday (13), the Ministry of Health asked Anvisa to approve the use of self-tests for Covid in Brazil. According to Minister Marcelo Queiroga, their use can help meet the growing demand for tests in the country.
*with information from Iuri Corsini and Thayana Araújo, from CNN
Reference: CNN Brasil
