The Minister of Public Health Dr Manaouda Malachie in a communique’ he signed recently says Covid 19 Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) test will henceforth cost 30 000frs and payment will be done through the dematerialization platform of the Ministry of finance using this link, https://tresorpublic.com.
This news is not welcomed by Cameroonians especially those who travel often.
“How can a test move from being free to 30, 000FCFA. This is to limit us from traveling as the payment procedure is now complicated.” This is great exploitation because in some Countries the covid 19 PCR test is still free”. Exclaims a traveler.
This move according to the Ministry of public health is to boost the countries revenue and economy, given that the country spent around 20 billion FCFA to purchase Covid 19 kits.
He equally explained that all payments will be done using the Ministry of Finance website. Once they amount is paid, they will be issued a code.
“The enrollment process at the said platform allows the generation of a unique code, and a payment receipt that the user will present at one of the sampling sites of the network of laboratories approved in carrying out this test” He explains.
Payment can be done at the National Public Health Laboratory, Laquintinie Hospital in Douala and at the Garoua Regional Hospital Centre. The establishment of other physical sites will be done in Bafoussam as well as at border health posts.
Meanwhile those wishing to conduct the PCR test can go to Centre Pasteur and Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, as of may 11 Cameroon had 119,947 confirmed cases of covid 19 with 1,930 deaths.11 percent of the target population had received at least one vaccine dose.
Cameroon now joins other countries like Gabon who also fixed an amount that the population have to pay for PCR test. In Gabon, conducting a PCR test is 50,000 FCFA.