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Merge 104.8 | 23 July 2020
Speaking at the 13th press conference of Oman’s Supreme Committee for COVID-19 today [Thursday, July 23], Minister of Health, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al Saeedi has stated that the maximum cost for a PCR test in private hospitals should not exceed OMR 45.
“There are several types of tests, but the common one in Oman — and the one that is very accurate — is the PCR test,” His Excellency stated. “And, unfortunately, the price was so variable between different private sector institutions. But, there was a decision from the Ministry of Health to put a limit, and the most expensive of the types of PCR tests should not exceed OMR 45.”
The Ministry of Health (MoH) issued a circular earlier in the week which stated that the price for COVID-19 PCR swab tests in private hospitals will not be more than OMR 5 per sample.
This fee does not include laboratory processing fees. The document announcing the cap on costs for the tests was signed on Tuesday [July 21] by the Minister of Health.
The move comes in an effort to control the prices of COVID-19 lab tests at private hospitals across the country, as negative PCR certificates become required more often in order for people to be cleared for travel, or to return to work.
As per the circular, the total capped costs for COVID-19 tests, inclusive of additional laboratory fees will be OMR 30 for PCR real-time tests, and OMR 45 for PCR point-of-care tests. For COVID-19 antibody tests, the cost will be OMR 14.
(Also read: COVID-19: Results of Oxford-led vaccine “very positive”, says UK Prime Minister.)
