S wants free antibody testing
Skåne is one of five regions in the country that has introduced antibody testing. The test shows if you’ve had corona.
SKR (Sweden's municipalities and regions) proposed a fee of 200 crowns. This fee was adopted by Region Skåne in summer.
”The antibody test is not used to trace the infection. To trace the infection, another sample is used, the one taken if you suspect that you are ill. And that test is still free”Gilbert Tribo (L), Region Skåne
But the fee will give Region Skåne a profit of more than 100 million crowns. This is because Region Skåne was successful with the procurement. The tests now cost around 475 crowns each. But the region gets 750 crowns from the state and 200 crowns from the patient for each test.
The Social Democrats are now proposing that patients shouldn’t have to pay the fee in Skåne.
– It’s unreasonable for Region Skåne to make money from citizens in Skåne getting tested, says Anna-Lena Hogerud (S), Vice-Chair of the Healthcare Committee.
Gilbert Tribo (L), Chairman of the Healthcare Committee, says that a proposal from S is being prepared:
– Then we will see what we come up with. But this is a council decision where all parties have to agree about introducing this.
Of the five regions that have introduced antibody testing, it’s only free in Stockholm.
– The antibody test is not used to trace the infection. To trace the infection, another sample is used, the one taken if you suspect that you are ill. And that test is still free, says Tribo.
