THE Competition Commission and South Africa’s three largest private pathology labs, Pathcare, Lancet and Ampath, have agreed to reduce the price of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen tests to no more than M150 inclusive of VAT with immediate effect.

According to SABC News daily updates, the price reduction will remain in effect for two years.

The three laboratories have also undertaken to submit to the Commission, a compliance report that will include financial statements every three months.
The Spokesperson for the Competition Commission, Siyabulela Makunga said this is a second successive price reduction settlement the Commission has concluded with the three private laboratory groups in less than 14 days.
He said the Commission is currently pursuing an investigation against top SA pharmacy, Dis-Chem, and in its investigation, the Commission found that one of the biggest retailers, Clicks, at present, does not appear to conduct Rapid Antigen testing, so no investigation against Clicks will be pursued at this stage.
Mr Makunga said the Commission’s investigations follow a complaint lodged by the Department of Health (DOH), on December 14, against service providers delivering COVID-19 Rapid Antigen tests in South Africa to consumers.
For his part, the NACOSEC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Operational Support, Thabo Ntoi confirmed the reduction of COVID-19 tests at the border gates.