The government through Ministry of Health has reduced the cost of testing for COVID-19 in government hospitals across the country.
In a statement released on Saturday, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine said the reduction in testing charges is as a result of reduced cost of transporting laboratory testing kits.
“I would like to inform you that the cost of transporting laboratory testing kits and other supplies from the point of manufacture to the country has reduced due to the resumption of international flights.” Dr. Atwine said.
Among those that are supposed to pay for their tests are individuals who would like to know their status, those that need a negative COVID-19 certificate for international travel, organisations that seek to test their staff in addition to truck drivers at different points of entry.
“Ministry of Health has reduced the cost of testing for COVID-19 from USD 65$ (about Shs240,500) to USD 50$ (about Shs185,000). This is against the background that the cost of transporting lab test kits and other supplies has since reduced due to the resumption of international flights,” she noted.
She, however, noted that government will continue offering free testing services to patients who present to health facilities with COVID-19 symptoms.
“The cost reduction takes immediate effect from the time we wrote the circular and we had communicated earlier to the boarder points,” she said.
In August, the government put the price at Shs240,500 for individuals who wanted to test for COVID-19, a move that caused controversy and agitation from especially truck drivers who have continuously complained about high testing fees.
The reduction on COVID-19 testing fees happens in the wake of the increasing numbers of forged COVID-19 certificates.
Last week, a total of 23 passengers of various origins were intercepted by the Aviation Police at Entebbe International Airport after they presented forged
COVID-19 certificates.
