In a bid to make COVID-19 RT-PCR tests easily affordable as well as accessible, PathStore France launched a COVID-19 RT-PCR testing campaign Abki Baar RT-PCR, offering the test at `299 only. Backed by RT-PCR kits developed under an Indo-French technological partnership, the test service is a triumph and boost to Indo-France relationship. Given the pricing, PathStore COVID-19 tests have the potential to revolutionize COVID testing strategy in India, reducing dependency on rapid antigen testing drastically.
PathStore’s deployment of its highly affordable ‘gold standard’ RT-PCR testing will be a key part of the state’s response in ensuring tourism, industrial and retail sectors functioning. The company has projected overall savings of over USD 2 to 5 billion a year to the exchequer if the testing rates are brought down nationally.
Talking about the overall campaign, Anubhav Anusha, Global CEO, GeneStore said, “The PathStore COVID-19 test will be a major shot in the arm to the Indian and global testing strategies in the fightback against COVID-19. We find testing cost is one of the major impediments for the economically vulnerable sections in accessing high quality COVID-19 diagnostics facilities. PathStore’s unique mission and challenge is to deliver an international quality of its laboratory testing and customer service at a price point that is accessible to over 80% of the Indian population.”
Explaining the benefits of the pricing strategy, Anusha added, “At present, India is conducting 15 to 20 lakh tests per day, which on an average costs the Indian economy close to `3000 crores a month. With the price point of `299/-, it is estimated that the Indian consumer will save over 1500 crores per month, which translates into a sufficient fund to procure approximately an additional 1 crore vaccines monthly or at least double the scale of testing.”
Abki Baar RT PCR campaign embodies one of the key pillars in PathStore’s strategy for infectious disease control, universal coverage and accessibility to gold standard testing. The company has established India’s largest RT-PCR and biosafety level 3 testing laboratory, which is capable of handling 1 lakh samples a day, and will be led by an army of 500 medical representatives trained by Mayo Clinic, USA. The company has also launched an Allied Medical Services Training Academy to address the issue of India’s manpower crisis for COVID 19 RT PCR sample collection, and is currently training over 1000 individuals as a part of its nation-wide human resources deployment to fight the pandemic.
Earlier in 2020, PathStore’s parent company GeneStore France, in a joint venture with SpiceHealth, launched the RT-PCR mobile laboratories with `499 testing service. GeneStore exited the partnership with SpiceHealth in January 2021.
