Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Health officials today addressed allegations that at least one private clinic is offering COVID-19 tests to members of the public for $1,000 per test.
It is further alleged that the doctor in question is charging an additional $5,000 to see patients if they are suspected of having the virus.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas said there is only one authorized testing centre in Antigua.
“DNA PCR, which is the recommended testing for COVID-19, at this point in time, is only available at the Caribbean Public Health Agency in Trinidad, through the public health laboratory at the Mount St John’s Medical Centre,” Sealey-Thomas said at a news conference.
“I just want to caution the general public, again the recommended test right now for COVID-19 is DNA PCR.”
She said the Ministry of Health, along with Mount St. John’s, are working assiduously to have DNA PCR test at the MSJMC free of cost.
“We are going through very severe economic times right now and I want to warn the public that there is no test right now available in the private sector that can tell you that you definitely have COVID-19,” Sealey Thomas.
The CMO said if the allegations are true, the doctor would more than likely be using an antibody test.
“It may tell you that you’ve had a coronavirus infection in the past. It doesn’t tell you that you have immunity against COVID-19 and it doesn’t tell you necessarily that you have COVID-19 at this point in time,” Sealey-Thomas said.
“So people need to be very careful with their scarce resources at time point in time.”
AG will be asked to investigate
Meanwhile, Health Minister Molwyn Joseph says as a government, they have a responsibility to protect the public, and he will be bringing the matter to the attention of the Attorney General.
“I am going to be asking the Attorney General to look in our laws to see what provision we have in any law in Antigua and Barbuda to protect the public,” Joseph said.
“Because if there is a test that is not considered to be scientifically proven in terms of its effectiveness, I don’t think it’s acceptable that doctors, and this is only an allegation, to provide that test to the public.
“This is a very serious development as far as I’m concerned because you could have a situation where an individual is told you are COVID-free and then that individual takes on a different kind of lifestyle. That individual might not practise social distancing.
“Someone getting a false result could go and transfer that disease to many members of the family so this is a very serious development,” Joseph added.
