The government has given permission to HAMS Hospital to conduct PCR tests by charging fees.
HAMS can now conduct PCR test of anyone wishing to voluntarily get tested by charging Rs 5,500 after receiving permission from the Health Ministry.
The ministry had already given permission to HAMS but had later apologized that HAMS was mistakenly mentioned in place of another hospital after it was revealed that HAMS lacked PCR machine and other infrastructure.
"HAMS lacked infrastructure earlier. They later informed us saying infrastructure has been completed. Permission has been granted as we found that infrastructure has been completed as per the standard," Communication Officer with the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) Rajesh Kumar Gupta told Setopati.
The Health Ministry initially had given permission only to Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) and Patan Hospital to do PCR tests charging fees. It had then expanded that to one government hospital in every province.
It then extended the permission to Kathmandu Medical College (KMC) and Star Hospital of Kathmandu out of the six that the government had granted permission to.
Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Surya Health Care of Lazimpat, Kathmandu, National Path Lab of Butwal and Bageshwori Laboratory of Kohalpur were the other laboratories to initially get permission to do PCR tests.
