By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
INFORMATION has emerged that Covid-19 test results are being deliberately delayed by some unscrupulous health workers so that patients are enticed to pay for them.
The Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ) said a survey they recently carried on the delay in the release of Covid-19 test results revealed that patients were being asked to pay bribes.
The Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ) said a survey they recently carried on the delay in the release of Covid-19 test results revealed that patients were being asked to pay bribes.
MQHZ director general, Dr Quince Mwabu said delayed Covid 19 results had a detrimental effect on public health as positive cases could further spread the diseases in the period of waiting.
Dr Mwabu warned health workers involved in the ‘evil’ act to stop immediately as officers were on the ground to fish out such dangerous elements.
“We are worried about the delay in the release of Covid- 19 test results in designated medical facilities across the country, due to unscrupulous health workers. It has come to our attention that this delay is at times deliberate by some members of staff in these health institutions.
“Our survey has revealed that patients are being asked to pay bribes, even in UTH, for them to receive the re- sults on time. We condemn this in the strongest terms possible,” he said.
Dr Mwabu also advised the general public that all Covid-19 tests were free and only UTH, Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital, Chipata General Hospital, Mansa General Hospital, Chinsali General Hospital, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Macha Mission Hospital Medland Clinic and CIRDZ laboratories in Lusaka were designated facilities to do Corona virus tests.
He also warned that blood testing was unreliable for Covid -19 because the tests were only for antibodies, which tests give inaccurate results.
