Private lab says its COVID-19 test results not counted by ministry

 

A private medical centre is expressing concern that the Ministry of Health is refusing to accept its COVID-19 test results despite the facility being approved by the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC).

 

Dr. Orville Nembhard, Director of Health Plus Associates, said he has contacted the ministry to rectify the issue, however, there has been no favourable response.

 

"The ministry still refuses to accept any results we send in to them. They say we are not on their approved list, meaning the Ministry of Health approved list. We have asked, through JANAAC and through the ministry, what is the process to get unto their list. The response we've had from the ministry is they gave us a list of things we need to submit, we have done so, and over four weeks now we are waiting for a response from them. If we send the patient in with the certificate which shows the positivity, what they do is they tell the patient that they have gotten a result from an unapproved and therefore they can't accept it," he revealed. 

 

Dr. Nembhard is concerned that a number of COVID-19 cases are not being recorded in the official statistics because of this issue. 

 

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has called for more private laboratories to be involved in testing for COVID-19 as cases of the virus continue to surge.

PSOJ President Keith Duncan also wants private doctors to be approved to conduct testing.

Mr. Duncan believes the current rapid testing system is prohibitive and widening the pool of approved testing sites will result in more accurate data on COVID-19 cases in Jamaica.