Health Protection Agency (HPA) has arranged five hospitals for PCR testing services for outbound travelers.

Certain airlines require travelers to hold a COVID-19 test result not older than 48-72 hours, provided by a lab that is government approved. Entry back into their home countries are also affected in some cases, if the traveler does not hold said test results.

ADK Hospital and Tree Top Hospital were approached for these arrangements at first but due to several problems in the process, Health Emergency Operation Center has now taken over the arrangements. As such the HPA announced today five hospitals where PCR tests can be done and the pricing for these tests.

The service is available from Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), ADK Hospital and Tree Top Hospital located in the greater Male’ region, and Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital in the north, and Addu Equatorial Hospital in the south.

All three government hospitals will provide the service for MVR 1534, while ADK will charge MVR 1500 and Tree Top MVR 2000.

HPA also noted that to receive the tests on time, samples must reach the lab 48 hours prior to departure time. Travelers must submit their travel itinerary copy and other items requested by the testing lab.