In Gabon, the screening test against Covid-19 is no longer free. It is now paid. This is what is written in a government decree adopted a week ago by the Council of Ministers and published in the Official Journal on January 7th. The general public was informed of the publication of the new decree on Thursday on social networks.
With our correspondent in Libreville, Yves Laurent Goma
Article 7 of the decree is clear: “ End of free Covid-19 screening tests “, a free service that had been in force for eleven months.
At the start of the epidemic, the test cost 5,000 FCFA and the plan to increase it to 20,000 FCFA caused widespread dissatisfaction. The current Prime Minister, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, had then finally decided: no more paid tests for the poor.
” No more mass screening phase »
But according to the new decree, the voluntary test is charged at 50,000 FCFA. Article 8 of the decree nevertheless specifies that people who are not eligible for vaccination will still benefit from a free screening test.
” The mass screening phase is over. Make way for mass vaccination “, confided a minister who reminds the population that vaccination is completely free.
Read also: Covid-19 in Gabon: the entry into force of the health pass suspended by appeals
“ We are going to attack this decree before the Constitutional Court “, announced, Georfroy Foumboula Lebika, one of the leaders of the citizen movement which challenges the government policy to fight against Covid-19.