The cost of PCR tests in Abu Dhabi have been reduced to Dh65, authorities in the emirate announced.
Nasal PCR tests were previously priced at Dh85 but have been reduced to Dh65 at Abu Dhabi’s healthcare facilities and Seha’s screening centres.
In an official circular, the Abu Dhabi Department of Health said, “Please note that the cost of Covid-19 (PCR) test is revised to be 65 Dhs for single run including collection and testing of the sample.
“For cases presenting to health care facilities with no symptoms or medical indication for the test will be covered by the individual. All other cases are covered.”
Cases that are covered by insurance include people presenting with Covid symptoms and people of determination.
All Abu Dhabi government employees who are fully vaccinated must pay to take a monthly PCR test under new rules.
The test must be performed every 28 days after they receive their second dose of the vaccine, authorities had said earlier this month.
Only those who have the letter E displayed in their Al Hosn app, which can be obtained by performing weekly PCR tests, are exempt from the test.
Government employees who are not fully vaccinated must pay to take a PCR test every seven days, as was previously the case.
This includes people who have not received the Covid-19 vaccine, those who have received two doses but have not yet completed the 28 day-period waiting for the full effectiveness to kick in and those who have a medical certificate exempting them from taking it.
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. In December last year prices were yet again slashed to Dh85 and now to Dh65.
Updated: March 24, 2021 07:38 PM
