*The Lagos State Government has recommended a reduction in cost of COVID-19 PCR test at accredited private laboratories’ consortium from N50,400 to N45,250 effective January 28, 2022

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

In a move to cut the entire expenses being incurred by consumers who need the PCR tests for travel, work, or other purposes, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has announced the reduction in the cost of the COVID-19 PCR test at all accredited private laboratories in the state.

ConsumerConnect gathered the cost of the Coronavirus PCR test, initially fixed at N50,400 has been reduced to N45,250 with effect from Friday, January 28, 2022.

Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Honourable Commissioner for Health, made the announcement Wednesday at Alausa, in Ikeja.

The Commissioner disclosed the COVID-19 PCR test cost was reviewed by Lagos State COVID-19 Incident Command Structure, and subsequently, approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The latest reduction in cost, he noted, was to cut the expenses incurred by citizens who need the PCR tests for travel, work, or other purposes other than COVID symptoms or contact tracing.

The Commissioner said: “In line with the directive of Mr. Governor, the Lagos State Biobank has reviewed the processes involved in conducting a COVID-19 PCR test at the accredited private laboratories consortium and based on this, made a recommendation to the Governor for a reduction.

“For those that need to travel and require a private PCR test, the Lagos State Government has recommended a reduction in the cost of COVID-19 PCR test at the accredited private laboratories consortium from N50,400 to N45,250 per PCR test commencing on the 28th of January 2022.”

Abayomi also stated: “You will recall that N50,400 initial PCR test fee charged at the private laboratories was a fixed amount approved by the Governor during the expansion of our testing to include the private laboratories consortium in the first wave.”

“This strategy was to expand testing outlets available to the public but more importantly to ensure price control standardisation and avoid exploitation of the public, as there were huge cost variations in PCR testing in the private sector ranging from N70,000 to as high as N300,000 per PCR test.

“Mr. Governor has approved the reduction in the cost of the PCR test, bringing us to the new cost of N45,250 per PCR test. What this implies is that the Lagos State Government will enforce the new cost of PCR tests conducted at the private laboratories’ consortium.”

Lagos State, therefore, urged the residents, particularly inbound passengers who are required by law to test on arrival, to reciprocate this gesture by booking, paying, and presenting themselves at any of the accredited laboratories’ consortium on approved days for their PCR tests on arrival in the Centre of Excellence (Lagos).

Further reviews will be made in due course, especially as the ongoing COVID vaccination campaign gains momentum, said he.