KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has issued an interim guideline in regard to granting permission to private and community hospitals to conduct the COVID-19 test through Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) procedures.

As per the guideline, only private and community hospitals registered in the Ministry will be eligible for conducting the test. Prior to this on Tuesday, the Ministry had decided to allow public health institutions to carry out the PCR test for coronavirus.

The guideline allows private and community hospitals to charge not exceeding an additional 20 percent of the purchase price for the test.

Health institutions inside the Kathmandu Valley should obtain permission from the Department of Health Services and in case of institutions outside the Kathmandu Valley, State Health Directorate will grant permission.

They are allowed to use test kits listed by the National Public Health Laboratory. The Laboratory has listed kits manufactured by seven companies in China, one in the United States of America and one in Canada. If the RDT result came positive, the respective hospital should recommend for PCR test.

The guideline has sought good documentation of RDT test and presentation of the test reports to the Laboratory on a daily basis. Information to that regard shall be provided to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, as per the demand, for public health purposes.