Major Abu Dhabi hospitals drop Covid-19 PCR test to Dh180

Price of the nasal swab test has been reduced for second time this month

A medic tests a passenger in the back of a taxi at the drive-through screening centre at Mina Rashid in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Staff at Dubai's Mina Rashid centre test drivers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People wait to be tested for Covid-19 at City Walk's drive-through screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Drivers queued for at least two hours to be swabbed. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mina Rashed screening centre manager Dr Mohanna Hasan said most people were getting tested to enter Abu Dhabi or to fly abroad. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The work is difficult in the heat as medics work their way through hundreds of cars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Major hospitals in Abu Dhabi have cut the price of a Covid-19 PCR test to Dh180.

It was the second drop in the price of the nasal swab test this month.

On Wednesday, several clinics and hospitals across the city introduced a reduced rate for the test as part of ongoing efforts to drive down Covid-19 infection rates in the emirate.

Big operators such as Mediclinic, which runs seven hospitals and clinics in the emirate, and Seha, which manages all government-owned healthcare centres in Abu Dhabi, have further reduced their prices to encourage more people to get tested for the coronavirus.

Mediclinic Al Noor Hospital said the test is now Dh180. This rate is applicable at all Mediclinic branches in Abu Dhabi.

VPS Healthcare hospitals in Abu Dhabi also offer tests at the same price for all UAE residents.

Their hospitals include Medeor Hospital and LLH Hospital Abu Dhabi.

The price has also been cut at all Seha testing centres.

Originally Dh370, hospitals first reduced it to Dh250 on September 10.

Those with health insurance from Daman were given an additional 10 per cent discount, making it Dh225.

A price of Dh199 was given to pupils, students, teachers, university instructors and passengers who were booked on Etihad flights.

No prior booking is needed to take the test at Mediclinic hospitals as they now accept walk-ins in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai. Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi offers tests between 7am and 10pm.

The tests are still free for suspected patients, people in vulnerable categories including those with chronic illness, UAE citizens and people aged 50 and above.