Govt waives Covid-19 test fees for haj pilgrims

Govt waives Covid-19 test fees for haj pilgrims

Pilgrims can get their RT-PCR tests done for free at the health ministry’s facilities but will have to pay if they do so at private facilities.

The health ministry says haj pilgrims can contact the district health office for information on the free Covid-19 test. (AP pic)
PETALING JAYA:
Putrajaya is waiving the Covid-19 test fees for haj pilgrims as long as they undergo screening at public health facilities.

Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said pilgrims could get their RT-PCR tests done for free at the ministry’s facilities, but they will have to pay the normal price if they were to get tested at private facilities.

This comes after the Saudi Arabia government set the rule that haj pilgrims must test negative for Covid-19 in an RT-PCR test 72 hours before arriving in the country.

“Pilgrims may contact the district health office or the district Tabung Haji office to obtain further information on the matter, including health ministry facilities that provide RT-PCR tests,” Khairy said in a statement today.

Saudi Arabia has set Malaysia’s haj quota for this year at 14,306 pilgrims.

It imposed the RT-PCR test requirement to curb the spread of Covid-19 while ensuring that people can perform the haj pilgrimage safely.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.