According to a newspaper report, the corona rapid tests, which have so far been free for citizens, have already cost the federal government more than 3 billion euros this year.

The information came from the Federal Social Security Office (BAS), announced the Federal Ministry of Health, according to the "Rheinische Post" (Thursday edition).

Accordingly, the federal government paid for laboratory diagnostics services in the amount of 782 million euros, 1.084 billion euros in material costs for the antigen rapid tests and other services in accordance with the current test regulation amounting to just under 1.75 billion euros, including in particular the smear tests. 

In addition, according to the report, the federal government took on around 74 million euros this year for tests in integration assistance facilities and in shelters for the homeless.

In total, the previous costs for 2021 amount to just under 3.7 billion euros.

There is discussion about ending the exemption from costs for the tests in the future for all those for whom there is a vaccination recommendation.

The Federal Ministry of Health proposed this for mid-October.

It is assumed that anyone who wants a vaccination can have full vaccination protection by then.

The tests remained free of charge for children as long as there is no vaccination recommendation for them, and for people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

"Invest better in vaccination campaigns"

The German Association of Towns and Municipalities showed sympathy for it.

Whoever refuses the vaccination is making a personal decision, the consequence of which the state does not have to finance, said chief executive Gerd Landsberg to the "Handelsblatt".

"The nationwide free citizen tests for everyone devour large sums of taxpayers' money, which should be better invested in further vaccination campaigns."

In contrast, the health policy spokeswoman for the Greens parliamentary group, Maria Klein-Schmeink, criticized the initiative in the same paper.

The ministry leaves open how the continuation of the test infrastructure should be guaranteed.

It is also not responsible if only "well-heeled" people can be tested in the event of an increasing number of infections in autumn.

The managing director of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, Ulrich Schneider, warned of the social consequences.

"For us as a charity it is important that all those who cannot be tested and for whom the Stiko has no vaccination recommendation continue to have free corona tests," he told the newspaper.

The parliamentary manager of the Left, Jan Korte, also criticized the federal government's plans.

People who could not be vaccinated depend on infections being detected quickly, he told the newspaper.

"It would therefore be fatal if the federal government now steals from its responsibility and withdraws test offers."

Korte spoke out in favor of a large-scale vaccination information and education campaign to convince doubting people of the vaccination. "Where are the TV and social media spots, where are the information and vaccination teams in the hot spots?" He asked.