The Covid-19 PCR test will now cost AED 150 at DHA primary healthcare centres, clinics, hospitals and screening centres
29 September 2020
| Last updated on 30 September 2020
It is the second time Dubai dropped the price of PCR tests this month
To encourage more UAE residents, citizens and visitors to be proactive with their medical examinations, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) slashed the cost of Covid-19 PCR tests down to AED 150 in select facilities.
The new reduced price will only be available at DHA primary healthcare centres, hospitals, clinics and screening centres. At private hospitals and clinics, the cost of PCR tests is still at AED 250, said authorities.
The move is part of the DHA's precautionary and preventive measures to make Covid-19 screening more accessible as well as to encourage more residents to get tested.
Initially, the Covd-19 nasal swab test cost AED 370 in the UAE, and was reduced to AED 250 for both public and private medical centres earlier in September.
Recently, Abu Dhabi also reduced the cost of PCR tests. The Covid-19 tests are currently available for AED 180 in hospitals, clinics and screening centres across the capital.
The tests remain FREE for those presenting strong symptoms, those suspected to have contracted the virus, people who have or who live with someone who has chronic illnesses, UAE nationals, and anyone who is 50 years old and above.
What are PCR tests?
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests allow health professionals to determine whether a patient is positive for Coronavirus. It involves a nasal swab and takes only a few seconds.
Health professionals will look for traces of the virus in a sample to determine a positive or a negative result.
Currently, a PCR nasal swab test is one of the only reliable Covid-19 tests that UAE authorities use.
The Ministry of Health reported 996 new cases, three deaths and 1,076 recoveries.
The total number of confirmed cases in the UAE now stands at 93,095 since the outbreak began.