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 R150 including inclusive of VAT with immediate effect.
The price reduction will remain in effect for two years. The Competition Tribunal has confirmed the agreements in an order.
The three laboratories have also undertaken to submit to the Commission, a compliance report that will include financial statements every three months.
Spokesperson for the Competition Commission, Siyabulela Makunga explains: “This is a second successive price reduction settlement the Commission has concluded with the three private laboratory groups in less than 14 days. The Commission is currently pursuing an investigation against Dis-Chem. 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. The Commission’s investigation follows a complaint lodged by the Department of Health (DOH), on 14 December 2021, against service providers delivering Covid-19 Rapid Antigen tests in South Africa to consumers.”
Earlier in December the Competition Commission announced that consumers will no longer pay more than R500 for COVID-19 PCR tests. The figure includes VAT.
Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele on the PCR tests price reduction:
