Costs for tests vary greatly
The city of Vienna, which carries out the most tests in Austria, wants to keep its everything gargling program and argues that this is very cheap compared to the expenditure in other federal states.
However, trying to back up this comparison with figures is difficult because some countries do not want to disclose the costs of the tests. However, some figures indicate that there were indeed large differences in prices.
Around 300 million tests performed
Almost 300 million tests have been carried out since the beginning of the pandemic, a third of them PCR, two thirds antigen. The figures include the official tests from the daily federal state reports as well as the tests in pharmacies, schools and companies as well as those in tourism. The Ministry of Finance recently put the costs for all tests at 2.6 billion euros.
This results in a flat rate of just under 8.66 euros per test. In detail, however, a very different picture emerges: while the throat tests in Vienna cost between just over four and around seven euros per examination, in Burgenland, for example, individual tests cost 50 euros. The federal government reimburses 25 euros for tests in pharmacies.
So far, most tests have been carried out in the city of Vienna, namely 62 million of a total of 192 million tests (excluding school tests), that is 32 percent. With the PCR tests it was even 55 percent. Around 500 million were spent on this. Around 300 million euros were spent on “Alles Gurgelt” and 200 million euros on the test streets.
Tyrol: 259 million for twelve million tests
In comparison, Tyrol spent around 259 million euros on tests but only carried out twelve million tests. The antigen tests accounted for 184 million euros, the PCR tests for 83.6 million euros.
Upper Austria does not give any details on contracts with the laboratories. The state puts the total costs at EUR 170 million, of which EUR 100 million for antigen tests and EUR 70 million for PCR. 27 million tests were carried out.
The Corona virus coordination staff in Burgenland states that the costs for the tests within the federal government are within an improved framework for reimbursement. For pool tests, this is 7 euros, with a positive test increasing the costs according to the subsequent evaluation. 50 euros are charged for individual tests, which are reimbursed by the federal government.
Lower Austria refers to a confidentiality obligation
In Lower Austria, too, the exact costs were kept secret. When asked by the APA, the responsible department of the state said that one was subject to a confidentiality obligation in this regard. So much can be said: “In any case, the tests do not cost more than the state of Vienna.” The city of Vienna had defended its everything gargling program by saying that it costs less than tests in other countries.
Salzburg estimates its total costs to date at EUR 52.37 million, Vorarlberg at EUR 15.5 million.
Carinthia at a similar price level as Vienna
Carinthia quotes similar prices to Vienna when asked by APA: PCR laboratory analysis pooling costs 4.10 per test, a PCR laboratory analysis individual analysis 23 euros per test. In Styria it is not yet known exactly how much the home gargle tests will cost. The tender was based on 250,000 tests per week. For this, the best bidder demanded 4.10 euros for the test plus 90 cents for the logistics, said test road coordinator Harald Eitner.
In fact, however, fields offer a maximum of 60,000 tests per week. Therefore, the unit price will rise significantly. In addition, in the omicron wave, due to the many infections, many pools of ten are dissolved at the laboratories and tested again. This also leads to increased costs. Eitner expects that the individual test would probably cost two to three euros more than the basis assumed in the tender. Thus, the price should rise from five to seven to eight euros. The final figures are not yet available because there is no invoice yet.
According to Eitner, the costs for the Styrian test roads run to 18 to 20 million euros per month. They are all operated by one provider. Around 200,000 tests – antigen and PCR – are carried out every week. However, the majority of the costs are caused by the necessary personnel and logistics.