No more free citizen tests: This is how pharmacies and test centers deal with the new requirements

Created: 06/07/2022 05:31

By: Laura Forster

"I would like us to know a little earlier": Daniel Kocman, who runs the test station at the train station in Aying, has little understanding for the Federal Ministry of Health's approach.

© lf

Since Thursday, the rapid corona tests have no longer been free for all citizens - despite the increasing number of infections.

How do test centers and pharmacies in the district deal with it?

District – The great chaos that prevailed at the end of last week because of the new regulation for the rapid corona tests has now subsided somewhat.

But the effort remains.

Since the tests have become chargeable again for some citizens, stress and strain in the pharmacies and test centers in the district have increased again.

“Instead of one and a half minutes, we now need around four minutes for a test.

In addition to the registrations, there is also self-disclosure and money transactions," says an employee of the Ottobrunn-Neubiberg Corona Rapid Test Center.

Around 80 citizens come to the Alte Landstrasse in Ottobrunn every day.

Demand has increased again after some test centers in the area have closed in the past few days and weeks.

"The effort is really extremely high," says the employee.

Since July 30, the rapid test has only been free for people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, for example women in the first trimester of pregnancy, caring relatives and people with disabilities and their carers, members of the household of infected people, children up to five years and residents and visitors of nursing homes, facilities for people with disabilities and clinics, citizens who want to test themselves after a corona infection, the chronically ill and participants in corona vaccine studies.

Others now have to pay three euros for a test: visitors to family celebrations, concerts or other indoor events, citizens whose corona warning app indicates an increased risk, or people who plan to do so, other people over the age of 60 or with previous illnesses hold true.

The rest of the testers have to pay themselves.

Cost point: between ten and 20 euros.

"We can only hope that customers are telling the truth"

"We can only hope that the customers tell the truth," says Apotheke Dr.

Peter Aurnhammer from Ismaning.

"Checking every self-assessment is simply not feasible." Aurnhammer's employees have also been busy with the approximately 50 tests per day since Thursday.

"We first had to deal with the new rules, but now we can inform the customers well," says Aurnhammer.

The team in Ismaning has not yet been scolded by disgruntled citizens.

"Most know that we are not responsible for the new regulation." Aurnhammer can understand the government's decision.

“Unfortunately, there were a few test center operators who took advantage of the situation.

But there are black sheep everywhere.

Politicians should have thought of something in advance

Aurnhammer has less understanding for the actions of the Federal Ministry of Health.

“We received the official information four hours after the new rules came into force.

It's extremely annoying and inconvenient.” Daniel Kocman, who has been running the test station at the train station in Aying since January, takes a similar view.

"I would like that we would be informed a little earlier to have enough time for the preparations."

Despite the additional effort and less remuneration, Kocman wants to maintain his test center.

"It's less of a commercial purpose and more of a responsibility towards the citizens." Most of his customers are seniors from the surrounding villages who want to visit relatives or friends in old people's or nursing homes or hospitals.

“People need a test and the offer in the area is very thinned out.” The operators of the Ottobrunn-Neubiberg corona rapid test center are not thinking of closing either.

"We have 90 percent regular customers who depend on us," says one employee.

More news from the district of Munich can be found here.