The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has reduced the fees for RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests at private hospitals.

From now on, private hospitals and clinics will not be allowed to charge more than Tk 2,000 for RT-PCR tests and Tk 500 for rapid antigen tests.

Dr Halimur Rashid, line director of the Communicable Disease Control unit at DGHS, issued the new directive on Wednesday (July 2). And it was later sent to all private hospitals and clinics in the country.

Earlier, private hospitals and diagnostic centres had been charging Tk 3,000 for RT-PCR and Tk 700 for antigen tests.

Recently in the country, COVID cases are rising. So far this year, 617 people have tested positive for COVID-19, with 23 deaths reported.