There are currently two primary types of COVID-19 tests. The first is the “Antigen Covid-19 rapid test” of which results are released between 15 and 30 minutes at a cost of Rwf 10,000 while the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test which provides results after 24 hours costs Rwf 47, 200.
Many people have been opting for ‘Antigen Covid-19 rapid test’ but there are still concerns that the cost is relatively high.
Speaking to KT Radio, the Director General of RBC, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana has revealed that the Government plans to reduce the cost.
“We have finalized talks with companies manufacturing medical supplies used to test COVID-19 so that the cost can be reduced at least between Rwf 5000 and 6000,” he said.
Once the revised cost is approved, Dr. Nsanzimana explained that it will increase numbers of people going for COVID-19 test.
He did not specify when new price may take effect but highlighted that Covid-19 test is likely to be integrated among packages of health services covered by Mutuelle de Santé.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 34143 people have been tested positive out of 1,583,612 sample tests.
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