Russia - The test arrives at home, for many but not all

For many but not for everyone. The lucky 'claim' of the 80s returns good for all seasons, even in times of coronavirus, when inequality is at the forefront, in Russia a real scourge. The network of private clinics 'Bud Zdorov' (In Salute), owned by the insurance company Ingosstrakh, has in fact released a test for COVID-19 that can be done comfortably at home. But it costs about 6 thousand rubles, or about 70 euros (each).
The test was developed by DNA Technologies and will rely on customers to collect their biological samples to obtain a positive result if a patient has the new coronavirus. An Ingosstrakh representative told Meduza that the company originally planned to test patients in person in its clinics, but eventually abandoned the idea (probably for safety reasons. But there is a caveat. Only adults and Clinically healthy children without acute respiratory symptoms will be eligible to undergo the test, the Ingosstrakh representative said. All positive tests will be repeated with the assistance of the Russian Federal Public Health Agency and the whole process will take two days to complete. each test.
Ingosstrakh plans to expand his home test in St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Ufa, Kazan, Kamensk-Uralsky, and Sochi (although nothing is known about the timing at the moment). Of course, 6 thousand rubles are not many, but the test will hardly be within the reach of millions of Russians, who live with meager pensions (12 thousand rubles per month) or starvation wages (even 7 thousand). The theme, once again, is therefore that of access to treatment and prevention, which repeats a history as old as the world: you are better when you are well (economically).