This week begins testing for Coddy-19 even in private labs, that's what a test will cost.

Starting this week, in Kosovo several private health institutions licensed by the Ministry of Health will begin conducting serological tests and tests with the PCR method for COVIID-19, the disease that causes coronirus.

Serological tests are those that can be proven if a person had coronavrus and was done through blood samples. Meanwhile, the test PCR determines whether the virus is active by analyzing the strands from the nose and throat.

The Minister of Health in the Government of Kosovo, Armend Zemaj, has announced on August 7th that out of 123 apps of health institutions, 37 of them have examined and licensed 33 testing labs for COVID-19, 31 institutions offer services for Serological tests and only 2 labs, will offer PCR tests.

Zemaj said that this week's licensed private labs could start testing for COVID-19.

The price of a serological test, no more than 20 euros

For Serological testing for COVID-19, the private laboratory in Pristina has also applied.

Valon Sopa, leader of this laboratory, told Radio Free Europe that they have not yet received official answers from the Ministry of Health as to whether they have been licensed. However, he expects Monday, August 10th, to obtain the license from the Health Ministry and start with Serological testing.

As for prices for serial tests that could be conducted in this laboratory, Sopa says it will not be higher than 20 euros.

“set prices by itself. We still don't know exactly because we haven't received tests from customs that dictate our prices, but thus will be (20 euros). These awards were not detected by anyone. But they are reasonable prices given the” situation, Sopa says.

Some hospitals in Pristina have warned they can run tests with the PCR method for COVID-19, and the price may be up to 50 euros.

Offers and Requests Determine Prices

As far as prices are concerned, authorities in Kosovo cannot determine the price, as the private sector undergoes free market competition. Offering, demand and external markets determine the prices of certain products.

Health Ministry officials have stated that with permission of tests in the private sector, they will be monitored by the Kosovo National Public Health Institute (IKSHPK), as the only institution to conduct valid tests for COVID-19.

“Report at the National Institute of Public Health should be on daily basis”, Free Europe Radio Chairman Faik Hoti spokesperson at the Ministry of Health said.

Kosovo with little testing for COVID-19

So far in Kosovo tests for COVID-19 have only carried out I The KSHPK, until 17 July, has begun to run Serological tests even in the primary health sector, at the Family Medicine Centres, which are the competence of the Pristina municipality.

Since presenting the first cases to Kosovo on March 13th, Kosovo has been estimated to have run few tests for COVID-19.

Currently in IKSHPK, there are between 400 and 500 tests a day.

Until August 9, I The KSHPK has tested 40,646 suspected persons for the new coronavrus.

The Ministry of Health, by the end of this year, has said it has been thought to have 100 thousand virological tests and twice the serological tests, with which the population will be tested in order to diagnose COVID-19, but also to see the degree of people's gained immunity, which have never been diagnosed by coronurus. /Rel/