The government has approved seven private laboratories to set up RT-PCR booths to test outgoing passengers for Covid-19 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
The organisations that received permission from the health ministry to set up booths at HSIA are— Stemz Health Care (BD) Limited Dhaka, CSBF Health Centre, AMZ Hospital Limited, Anwar Khan Modern Medical College Hospital (AKMMCH), Zainul Haque Sikder Women's Medical College (ZHSWMC), Gulshan Clinic Limited, and DMFR Molecular Lab and Diagnostics.
According to a circular issued on Wednesday, passengers going abroad would be able to undergo Covid-19 tests at the booths by paying a minimum of Tk 1,700 to a maximum of Tk 2,300,
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) formed a five-member committee to monitor the quality of the tests at the new labs after the authorities gave the labs permission on Tuesday.
Of the institutions, Stemz Health Care informed the authorities that it would be able to install a lab within three days. The clinic fixed the test fee at Tk 2000 each.
CSBF Health Centre, AMZ Hospital, and Gulshan Clinic sought five days to set up labs at the airport.
The three private laboratories fixed Tk 1,850, Tk 1,800, and Tk 1,750 for testing each sample.
Anwar Khan Modern Medical and DMFR Molecular Lab asked for four days to set up their booths. The two private labs said they would charge at Tk 2000 and Tk 2,300 for each test.
Zainul Haque Sikder Women's Medical College, which asked for six days for installing the booths, said it would charge Tk 1,700 for testing each sample.
