Coronavirus: PCR test cut to Dh85 in Dubai and Northern Emirates

Prices of swab tests at Seha centres across the country reduced as part of national effort to combat the spread of the virus

A health worker takes swab sample at a coronavirus drive-through screening centre in Abu Dhabi.

A health worker collects a swab sample.

A health worker wearing protective clothing administers a swab test.

A woman undergoes a nasal swab.

A health worker checks a man's temperature before conducting a coronavirus test at a drive-through testing centre.

A nurse measures the body temperature of a small girl.

A nurse collects a swab sample at the drive-through centre.

A man has his temperature checked.

A nurse administers a swab test.

A technician takes a nasal swab.

Cars line up as people wait to enter the drive-through testing centre.

Covid-19 screening centres across the country slashed the price of PCR tests to Dh85.

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, or Seha, will offer the discount rate at all of its screening centres in the capital, Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

The move is central to a national strategy to widen access to testing services and make the nasal swab more affordable to help limit the spread of the virus.

Private hospitals and clinics in Abu Dhabi have already cut prices and made swab tests available at Dh85 in line with the decision.

Private hospitals in Dubai have not announced any reduction in test prices yet.

Dr Ramzi Alshaiba, medical director at Bareen International Hospital in Mohammed bin Zayed City, said the hospital had reduced the cost of the test to Dh85.

“We believe that testing is an important tool and must actively continue to identify and arrest the spread of Covid-19 virus until vaccinations are available," said Dr Alshaiba.

“It is only through testing that one can identify a positive case. Asymptomatic cases are prevalent where an individual is healthy, yet he/she is still capable of transmitting the virus.

“Reduced Covid-19 testing prices will help people to undergo more tests, as and when required."

He said people who travelled frequently to other emirates needed regular testing, and the reduced price would help the public.

Previously, healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi could not charge more than Dh180 for a swab test.

At the start of the outbreak, the standard price for a PCR test in the UAE was Dh370. This was reduced to Dh250 in September.

A few weeks later, clinics in Abu Dhabi dropped the price to Dh180, while government-run hospitals in Dubai offered PCR nasal swab tests for Dh150.

Dr Mohamad Al Nahas, chief executive at MenaLabs, which provides testing services in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai, said their clinics in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain charged Dh85 for a PCR test.

But the same test cost Dh130 at their drive-though facility in Dubai.

Dr Al Nahas said they had seen more people coming in to get tested, since they reduced prices and introduced deals.

The clinic introduced a package deal under which one test costs Dh80, two tests Dh150 and three tests cost Dh210.

In Dubai, private healthcare providers are allowed to charge up to Dh250 for a Covid-19 swab test.

Prices have not changed at Medcare Hospital and clinics in Dubai. Swab tests at Medcare Medical Centres are Dh250.

NMC Specialty Hospital in Electra Street in Abu Dhabi will cost Dh85, while NMC hospitals in Dubai charge about Dh150 for the test.