Staff Reporter :
The Ministry of Health has approved 10 private diagnostic labs and hospitals in Dhaka to provide health certificates on Covid-19 to international passengers, in a bid to make the process easier for travellers.
These 10 labs had earlier been given permission to conduct Covid-19 tests for the general population in May.
According to a press release from the public relations officer of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Maidul Islam Prodhan, the DGHS submitted the recommendation to the ministry’s Health Services Division on Sunday.
The labs are icddr,b, DMFR Molecular Lab and Diagnostic Centre, Lab Aid ltd Dhanmondi branch, Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives, ideshi, Popular Diagnostic Centre (Dhanmondi Branch), Universal Medical College Hospital, Square Hospital, Evercare Hospital, Praava Diagnostic and United Hospital.
Government employees and staff can get their Covid-19-free certificates from the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and the Govt Employees Hospital.
The press release also included the contact numbers of civil surgeons of 15 districts, from whom the certificates could be collected.
Earlier in July, the Health Services Division approved 16 hospitals across the country for testing Covid-19 for outbound passengers.
These hospitals are the National Institute of Laboratory Medicine & Referral Centre, Institute of Public Health and National Institute of Preventive & Social Medicine in Dhaka, Narayanganj 300 Bed Hospital, Bangladesh Institute of Tropical & Infectious Diseases in Chittagong, Sher E Bangla Medical College in Barishal, Cox’s Bazar Medical College (IEDCR Field Laboratory), Cumilla Medical College, Khulna Medical College, Kustia Medical College, Mymensingh Medical College, Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College in Bogura, Rajshahi Medical College, M Abdur Rahim Medical College, Dinajpur, Rangpur Medical College and Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College.
At the time, it was said that samples must be collected 72 hours before the flight and the certificate must be delivered 24 hours before departure.
The health authorities also selected icddr,b for providing Covid-19-free certificates to foreigners, for the convenience of those working at International NGOs.
