COVID-19 test now costs N20,000 in Niger

Members of the public will now pay N20,000 for COVID-19 test in
Niger State, the Commissioner for Health Dr. Mohammed Makunsidi has
stated.

According to him, this is the cost agreed upon by the state
executive council and the change begins immediately.

The commissioner said those who would pay the fee are those who
need the COVID-19 test to travel abroad or for other personal
purposes.

He added that people who fall into the category of contact
tracing and those who were recommended by a medical officer to be
tested for exhibiting signs of the virus and posing a threat to the
public would be tested free.

“For those from the public, who have been recommended from the
hospital or for contact tracing who are required to do the test,
theirs is free of charge. Now, if you want to travel abroad, or you
need it for employment or other purposes other than contact tracing
and recommendation from a medical officer, you need to pay
N20,000,” he said.

Speaking to reporters in Minna, Makunsidi explained that the
amount, which is subsidised by the government, would help to bridge
the cost of consumables, laboratory maintenance and ensure a
longtime sustainability framework.

He said other federal health institutions charge N39,500 for the
COVID-19 test but the state government is subsidising its rate by
N19,500.

He explained that the COVID-19 expenses are becoming expensive
for the government alone to shoulder the responsibility, adding
that the turn out for testing was increasing every day and each
testing kit costs the state government N35,000 to procure.

“The cost of maintaining the laboratories, including the power
supply, machines, chemicals and reagents and other materials are
too much for the government to continue offering the services at a
large scale, free of charge.”

Members of the public will now pay N20,000 for COVID-19 test in
Niger State, the Commissioner for Health Dr. Mohammed Makunsidi has
stated.

According to him, this is the cost agreed upon by the state
executive council and the change begins immediately.

The commissioner said those who would pay the fee are those who
need the COVID-19 test to travel abroad or for other personal
purposes.

He added that people who fall into the category of contact
tracing and those who were recommended by a medical officer to be
tested for exhibiting signs of the virus and posing a threat to the
public would be tested free.

“For those from the public, who have been recommended from the
hospital or for contact tracing who are required to do the test,
theirs is free of charge. Now, if you want to travel abroad, or you
need it for employment or other purposes other than contact tracing
and recommendation from a medical officer, you need to pay
N20,000,” he said.

Speaking to reporters in Minna, Makunsidi explained that the
amount, which is subsidised by the government, would help to bridge
the cost of consumables, laboratory maintenance and ensure a
longtime sustainability framework.

He said other federal health institutions charge N39,500 for the
COVID-19 test but the state government is subsidising its rate by
N19,500.

He explained that the COVID-19 expenses are becoming expensive
for the government alone to shoulder the responsibility, adding
that the turn out for testing was increasing every day and each
testing kit costs the state government N35,000 to procure.

“The cost of maintaining the laboratories, including the power
supply, machines, chemicals and reagents and other materials are
too much for the government to continue offering the services at a
large scale, free of charge.”