Coronavirus test fee at KIA violation of International Health Regulation – BPS

General news for Thursday, September 3, 2020

Source: Starr FM

2020-09-03

Click to read all about the coronavirus →

The Public Safety Bureau has raised red flags on the government’s mandatory COVID-19 testing charge for travelers arriving at Kotoka International Airport.

Following the lifting of the air travel ban, the government through the Ghana health ministry and health service instituted a mandatory $ 150 testing fee to be charged to travelers.

The BPS says the measure violates part of the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR), which prohibits charging travelers for any medical exams to determine their status.

Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye defended the charge, saying that the fee is relatively cheaper compared to neighboring countries.

He argued, “then, that the passenger pay 150 dollars, which is less than what we pay, I think it is a very good bargain.”

Others have also called for cost reduction.

A letter addressed to the Minister of Health by the BPS on the matter stated: “We consider that the government’s decision to obligatorily charge all travelers a test fee of $ 150 is a serious violation of Law 7 of the IHR 2005 which establishes that , except for travelers seeking temporary or permanent residence, no A state will charge for any medical examination provided for in the RSI or any complementary examination that may be required by the state to determine the health status of the traveler examined for the protection of health public “.

The BPS, therefore, has asked the GHS to “withdraw with immediate effect the $ 150 per traveler test fee, entirely.”

He also called on the government to “maintain the 72 hours prior to the take-off test requirement and enforce a mandatory 14-day self-isolation regime for passengers arriving without the PCR test performed in the last 72 hours.”