A small white poster stuck to the entrance of this Ile-de-France pharmacy attracts a few glances.
“PCR service: 5 euros administration fees (not reimbursed by Social Security)”, can we read.
An amount which can go up to 10 euros "if necessary (of the result) in emergency in the evening", specifies the small sign.
An announcement that surprises more than one patient from this pharmacy, because for people who have been vaccinated, PCR tests are reimbursed at 100% by health insurance, and do not in any case require the payment of administrative fees.
“I thought the test was free, but I was charged 5 euros for administration fees. I asked the pharmacist if it was normal, she told me that she did not know ", explains Jérémy, a student, who came Tuesday morning to carry out a PCR test" before joining relatives for December 31 ". The young man, who says he received three doses of the Pfizer vaccine, explains that he found this meeting on Doctolib. “I was informed during the reservation that there would be an overcharging,” he continues, “but I only thought that it concerned only the unvaccinated people. I told myself that we were going to pay because they are overwhelmed, but we actually have no choice. "
Christelle, who came to accompany her daughter-in-law who must carry out an emergency PCR test, has spent 10 euros in this pharmacy, in order to obtain the result the same evening.
"We need the results quickly, so I did not find the application fees" messy ", but it is true that this is the first time that I see application fees for a test."
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Inside the pharmacy, our colleague who came to carry out a PCR test was also surprised at this amount to be paid to the person at the counter. In an exchange filmed on a hidden camera, he is explained the reasons for these “file fees”. "It is sent to the laboratory and it takes energy from us," explains his interlocutor. In fact, PCR is not at all cost effective. It takes us a monster time, it's very time-consuming, and in the end, it's three times less profitable than an antigen ”, continues the man.
" It's surprising ! », Reacted Henry Pierre Doermann, vice-president of the Union of Biologists and boss of the Novabio laboratories, to whom we showed these images. Charging administrative fees or overcharging for carrying out a PCR or antigen test is not a legal practice, reminds Henry Pierre Doermann, “it's as if you were driving without a driver's license, it's not authorized. "" The administrative fees and paperwork are included in the price of the test, "insists the vice-president of the Syndicate of Biologists. The reference price for a PCR test is € 43.89. "This sum combines the act of sampling, which is 9.60 euros and the act of analysis which costs 34.29 euros, but the excess fees for the Covid and for the medical biology analyzes are not authorized,it is not at all in the current health policy ”, blows the vice-president of the Union of Biologists.
Solicited, the pharmacy indicated that it did not know that this practice was not authorized.
