Following the allegation in some quarters that coronavirus patients are charged N30,000 before being tested, the Lagos State Government has said the allegation was not true, saying COVID-19 tests in all approved testing centres in Lagos State are free of charge.
Reacting to the alleged reports, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the state government is not collecting any payment from the patients at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, approved centres in Lagos, adding that no worker is allowed to collect money for tests either.
He said: “I want to state unequivocally that there is no designated COVID-19 testing centre in Lagos that collects, or is allowed to collect money for COVID-19 tests. Tests at the designated testing centres are free of charge.
“I want to assure the public that activities at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba and other approved centres for COVID-19 screening are effectively monitored in accordance with the strict guidelines of the Lagos State COVID-19 Response under which no fees are collected for the tests.”
He, therefore, appealed to residents to be careful of rumours and misleading reports targeted at discrediting and undermining the efforts of the government and the health workers trying to ensure that COVID-19 is contained in the state.
