Kuwait offers free virus tests for all, says ministry

Kuwait City - Ministry says it is keeping a watchful eye on private hospitals to clamp down on any price rigging

Kuwaiti health ministry said on Thursday that all government-run hospitals are providing coronavirus tests free of charge for citizens and expatriates alike, in line with health guidance, to contain the spread of the of the virus.
Kuwait has ramped up its testing and contact tracing in a bid to accurately assess the transmission rate, which in turn, would lead to large-scale research on demographic variables related to the spread of the contagion, according to a ministry statement quoted by KUNA.
All medical facilities running PCR tests have been properly accredited, as per guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation, the statement added, revealing that some seven labs applied for accreditation, one of which has been certified so far.
As for private hospitals, the ministry is keeping a watchful eye as it seeks to clamp down on any price rigging, making sure that these facilities offer the tests at a fixed rate nationwide, which is largely an affordable cost when compared to other countries, it said. The statement highlighted that the ministry would take decisive action against any effort to "cash in at such times of certainty", including bumping up prices and other nefarious doings.

• MENA