The city of Fez is experiencing an alarming shortage of PCR tests across private laboratories, in the midst of an Omicron-fueled 3rd COVID-19 wave in Morocco.
Residents of the country’s scientific capital are complaining that “no laboratories have available COVID-19 PCR tests,” as the only facility offering the tests in the city is the public Hassan II University Hospital Center.
As the only health facility providing the test, Fez citizens are reporting “large crowds and long lines” at the hospital.
According to an official list from the Ministry of Health listing laboratories providing the test across the Kingdom, the neighboring city of Meknes has five private laboratories providing the test, in addition to two public facilities.
The Moroccan government had initially had a mere three facilities providing PCR tests in the country during the early days of the pandemic back in March 2020.
The PCR market in Morocco has since been framed by the government, as authorities have introduced a “voluntary” system under the Health Ministry, for private laboratories to acquire the tests.
A council was created to issue authorizations to laboratories wishing to provide the tests, while some have seen their authorizations revoked by the Ministry due to undisclosed reasons.
The reason behind the test scarcity in Fez is the simple reluctance of laboratory owners to apply for the authorization required to administer COVID-19 PCR tests, as the investment remains hefty at an approximate MAD 2 million per laboratory.
The PCR test shortage in the city of Fez is exclusive to private laboratories, and rapid tests are available, as in most regions of Morocco, and are easily available in most pharmacies.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.