Thanks to Omikron, PCR test capacities are becoming scarce: why pharmacies don't do tests when they should
Created: 01/19/2022 10:09 am
By: Marc Dimitriu
Pharmacies are allowed to carry out PCR tests.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Due to the high number of cases at Omikron, the PCR test capacities are tight.
Pharmacies could counteract this, but for a reason they don't.
Munich – Thanks to Omikron, the corona numbers in Germany are skyrocketing.
On Wednesday, January 19, the RKI reported 112,323
positive
Corona tests.
This represents a new record. A consequence of the high number of new infections: The capacities for PCR tests are now running out.
Health Minister Lauterbach has therefore already prioritized staff in the healthcare sector and in care facilities.
Omikron: Test capacities are tight - pharmacies could help
But the solution to the problem is actually obvious.
A few weeks ago, the Corona Test Ordinance was changed, which now also allows pharmacies to carry out PoC-NAT tests
to perform.
PoC-NAT tests are very similar to PCR tests and the results are almost identical.
The Ministry of Health writes: “PoC-NAT tests are tests that, like the PCR test, are also based on the nucleic acid amplification technique (NAT), but can be evaluated on site (Point of Care, PoC), i.e. close to the patient and on site at short notice.
Therefore, they are not dependent on a laboratory for use.” The tests are also recognized worldwide.
Remuneration too low: test for pharmacies a negative business
But so far, hardly any pharmacy in Germany has carried out these tests, as reported by the
picture
. The reason for this: You are a negative business. Because the pharmacists only receive a fee of 30 euros for carrying out the test. The German Association of Pharmacists (DAV) considers this far too low, since the money does not cover the costs. "I don't know of any colleagues who do that. We add at least ten euros per test,” says Tatjana Zambo, pharmacist in Gaggenau and board member of the DAV.
According to the picture
, a pharmacist would pay 35 euros
for a test kit and protective clothing .
In addition, there are two kits for checking the device (validation) per batch of test kits.
Then there are the acquisition costs for the device (depending on the manufacturer, either 2500 or 15,000 euros), and then there are also the personnel costs.
With appropriate remuneration, the test capacities could be increased quickly thanks to the pharmacies.
Zambo explains: “The delivery times for the devices are around ten days – then you can get started.
I do not understand that.
We see that the laboratories are reaching their capacity limits and are not using these opportunities.”
Criticism of the Ministry of Health: Statement by the German Association of Pharmacists is ignored
The Ministry of Health should actually know about this, because as the
picture
reports, the DAV drew the Ministry's attention to the problem in a statement at the end of December.
So far without success.
“Pharmacies will not be able to offer the tests for this.
(...) It is not without reason that doctors are currently asking for prices of over 70 euros for self-payers for PCR tests," the letter said.
(md)