Bahrain’s government has spent millions of dinars towards testing its citizens and residents for Covid-19, it has emerged, writes the GDN's Raji Unnikrishnan and Reem Al Daaysi.
The minimum cost of conducting one test for the coronavirus is estimated at BD148 and Bahrain has so far tested 79,612 individuals for free as of last night.
This is in addition to the free treatment provided and services at the quarantine facilities in the country.
This was revealed by Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Waleed Al Manea last night during an interview on Bahrain TV.
He said an open budget has been allocated for the free testing and treatment of citizens and residents under the directives of His Majesty King Hamad.
“It’s a priority to provide these services regardless of the costs and the cost hasn’t been fully calculated yet because it has got a lot of details,” said Dr Al Manea.
“The nose swab tool has a cost, the laboratory tests (which include four or five solutions to be used), the kit, the device, the specialised personnel to conduct and analyse and input the results into the system – all these have costs.
“We calculated almost BD148 per test for the entire process from the initial testing to the follow-up, and we have conducted more than 76,000 tests so far.
“Our priority is to provide this service regardless of the cost and we have been given an open budget thanks to the Crown Prince and His Majesty the King.”
Dr Al Manea also revealed that the costs for the intensive care treatment have been estimated at BD800 per person per day.
“If one person, God forbid, needs intensive care, the cost is around BD800 per day without counting the medication,” he said.
“When it is only a medical bed and nursing care then it is more than BD130.
“The total cost of everything is in the millions.”
