Dr Ong taking an oropharyngeal swab from Lee earlier today.
SEREMBAN: The Mawar Medical Centre here has become the first private hospital in Negri Sembilan to provide drive-thru Covid-19 testing to reduce the workload of government hospitals.
It charges RM550 for the test.
The hospital's chairman, Datuk Lee Tian Hock, who became the first person to get tested here said it takes only five minutes for medical staff to collect oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs from individuals without them even having to alight from their vehicle.
"We decided to do this to reduce the work burden of healthcare workers in government hospitals.
"It is also to give an opportunity to locals who wished to be tested at a private hospital but can't go all the way to Kuala Lumpur where such testing is available due to the movement control order," he said when met at the official launch today.
Lee, who is also property developer Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd executive deputy chairman, said he decided to get tested as he had met several business associates recently.
"This is just a precaution. In fact, I have asked my site staff including managers and supervisors who have been dealing with our workers to also get tested and the company will bear the cost," he said.
The hospital's deputy medical director, Dr Ong Chiew Ping, said the hospital only accepts between 15 and 20 drive-thru individuals a day and they will have to make appointments before they come.
"They will get their test results between three and five days through their e-mail or WhatsApp application," she said, adding that the hospital also accepts walk-in individuals but the numbers were fewer.
However, she added that the tests are only for those who had not travelled abroad recently and did not come into close contact with a Covid-19 infected person. They, she said, would still have to go to the government hospital for testing.
The drive-thru service operates from 9am to noon from Mondays to Saturdays. Those who wish to get tested can call 06-764 7048 for an appointment.
