Business Competition Related to The Rapid Test Service For Diagnosis of Covid-19 in Hospitals in Surabaya, Indonesia

Abstract

The cost of rapid tests in several hospitals in Surabaya, Indonesia, turns out to be a burden to patients. These hospitals were suspected of a tying-in agreement which prohibited. This study aims to determine the impact of implementing the tying-in agreement and to deal with violations related to the COVID-19 rapid test's prices. The tying-in agreement on the rapid test facilities procurement is a violation of the law, and the perpetrators can go to prison. This research method is qualitative through a statutory and conceptual approach, equipped with virtual search techniques on several online media news. The study did not find evidence in the form of a written document regarding the hospitals' tying-in agreement but obtained patient admissions and brochures on the price of rapid tests, which had a detrimental effect on patients. The results show the existence of the rapid test's prices impacted the emergence of market access restrictions, creating monopoly markets, disguising price-fixing practices, and harming consumers of price variations. The study considered Government for providing COVID-19 rapid test health facilities at the same price in all hospitals.