KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has initiated an investigation against the private hospitals of the capital valley executing test of COVID-19 without taking formal consent from the Ministry.

The government which expanded the span of coronavirus test by granting permission to two private hospitals of the valley has initiated action against three more hospitals which have started COVID-19 tests without taking formal permission.

According to the sources, the government has initiated the investigation after it received complaints that Grande Hospital, HAMS Hospital and Nepal Medical College Jorpati have been executing the COVID-19 test disregarding the directives issued by the Ministry.

The Ministry sources revealed that the complaints against them even claimed they had collected the COVID-19 test charge higher than the one fixed by the government.

The Quality Assessment and Monitoring Division of the Ministry formed a 3 member investigation committee under the coordination of Senior Drug Administrator Pan Bahadur Chhetry on July 12, 2020.

The government has granted 2 private hospitals in the valley Star Hospital and Kathmandu Medical College on Sunday.

The government has fixed Rs 5,500 as the PCR test charge.