The Lagos state government has incorporated private sector laboratories to commence COVID-19 tests. Residents would be required to pay between N40,000-N50,400 to be tested in the private labs.
This was announced by the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Abayomi while inaugurating the Private-Public collaboration on the containment of coronavirus to expand the capacity of the government to effectively respond to the pandemic.
Abayomi said that residents who are unable to access free testing at government run laboratories now have the option to get tested at private sector laboratories at a fee between N40,000 and N50,400.
Lagos residents have expressed mixed feelings over this development. Some have opined that suspected individuals could be denied testing at government facilities where tests are carried out free with insufficient testing kits as an excuse, so attention could be diverted to the private laboratories.
The commissioner attributed the involvement of the private sector in the testing to state government’s commitment towards rapid expansion of testing capacity to every suspected case who might need testing.
Nigeria has recorded 25,133 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 573 deaths and 9,402 discharged patients.
Source: Leadership.ng