File photo used for representation only.
For residents and expatriates planning to travel soon will have to pay less for COVID-19 PCR tests. The charges for doing a COVID-19 PCR test at private clinics have declined by up to one-third as private clinics attempt to woo more customers. In a bid to attract customers, some private clinics have reduced charges for PCR tests to QR200. This is around 33 percent less than QR300, which was being charged earlier by clinics.
Residents and expatriates are required to do a PCR test for travel abroad at private healthcare facilities.
“We are witnessing a rush for doing PCR test as many citizens and expatriates are flying out of country during summer vacation. The crowd is more at evening compared to morning,” manager of a private clinic at Al Wakra told The Peninsula. “A person required to show just his Residency Permit to conduct the PCR test. We give results within 36 hours of doing the test,” he added.
Al Shefa Polyclinic at D Ring Road is charging QR200 for PCR test. Other private clinics have also lowered charges for the test. KIMS Qatar Medical Centre in Wakra is charging QR220 while Atlas Medical Center in Barwa Village is charging QR219. Several other private clinics are conducting the test in the range of QR220 to QR300. After doing the test, the results are given within 24 hours to 36 hours.
Customers are very sensitive to reduction in charges of PCR test. Any reduction of over QR50 in PCR test amounts to substantial savings for customers. Usually, in a family of four to six members, a reduction of QR50 results in a saving or around QR200- QR300.
“There is a strong competition among private clinics to attract customers looking for PCR test. Vacation season has started in Qatar which means more people are planning to fly out of the country. By lowering the charges of PCR test, private clinics want to attract more customers,” said manager of a private clinic at Hilal area. “Currently there is a strong rush of travellers who are coming for PCR test,” he added.
One of the main reasons behind rush for PCR test is the removal of hotel quarantine for vaccinated travellers, which has encouraged people to make travel plans.
Before July 12, it was mandatory for travellers coming from six countries including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Philippines to undergo 10 days hotel quarantine. But new travel policy, which came into effect from July 12, has removed the requirement of mandatory hotel quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers.
