In a major move towards consumer protection, the district administration in Lucknow has rolled a list of price ceilings for dengue and related diagnostic tests. Reportedly, the district authorities received multiple complaints regarding overpricing and this prompted them to formulate the latest tally of capped prices. As per the list, citizens cannot be charged more than ₹1,200 for NS1 ELISA test, if it is conducted at the lab and not more than ₹1,400, if the test happens at the patient’s home.
Strict legal action in case of non-compliance
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With the implementation of this measure, the district administration attempts to ensure financial safeguards for the residents, when dengue cases are on rise in the city. Further, the diagnostic centres have been warned that non-compliance to the price ceiling will result in strict legal action under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
While the authorities have fixed maximum prices for the common dengue tests, the released index also includes other diagnostic procedures. You can find the capped rates in the table below-
| Serial No. | Test Name | Maximum Price(At laboratory) | Maximum Price(At Patient’s Home) |
| 1 | NS1 Elisa | ₹1200 | ₹1400 |
| 2 | IgM Elisa | ₹750 | ₹800 |
| 3 | Iga Elisa | ₹750 | ₹800 |
| 4 | Scrub Typhus Elisa | ₹1200 | ₹1400 |
| 5 | Platelet Count | ₹250 | ₹350 |
Additionally, the administration also included the following in its list-
| Serial No. | Test Name | Maximum Price |
| 1. | ₹NS1 Card Test | ₹1000 |
| 2. | ₹Iga Card Test | ₹600 |
| 3. | 1 Unit Platelet | ₹400 |
It is often observed that some centres in the city resort to unrighteous practices during the time of a crisis. In view of this, it was important to cap the prices, so that the citizens can be protected against unlawful pricing. If you are charged a price higher than the above mentioned rates, you must directly report to the district administration.
