Taking into account the epidemiological situation and the diminishing importance of Covid-19 testing from the point of view of epidemiological surveillance, the procedures for state-paid Covid-19 testing will change significantly from January 1.
In the earlier stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was very important to carry out extensive testing to identify as many cases of Covid-19 as possible and to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by implementing epidemiological safety measures in the centers of infection. With the changes in the characteristics of the virus, the epidemiological situation and the approach to anti-epidemic measures, as well as taking into account the availability of vaccination, strict epidemiological control measures are no longer essential in the foci of the Covid-19 infection. Therefore, from the point of view of epidemiological safety, comprehensive testing of patients with suspected Covid-19 infection is no longer important, except in medical institutions.
In the future, state-paid Covid-19 tests will be performed only in cases of clinical indications for patients who need hospital treatment, in order to reduce the risks of the spread of infectious diseases in medical institutions where people with weakened immunity, patients with chronic diseases, etc. are concentrated. risk groups. Outpatients will pay for testing for pregnant women with symptoms of Covid-19, after the doctor evaluates the need for the test and the importance of the results in the treatment process.
Inpatient professional SARS-CoV-2 antigen test can be performed for every patient upon admission to the hospital in accordance with the procedure established by the institution. On the other hand, RNA tests can be performed in cases where the antigen test showed a negative result and:
the patient has a severe course of the disease;
the patient has signs of an acute respiratory tract infection or other signs characteristic of a Covid-19 infection;
the patient has clinical signs of pneumonia, incl. diagnosed pneumonia;
the patient has a severe acute respiratory infection for no other reason that fully explains the clinical manifestations, incl. patients requiring intensive care;
patients have fever of unknown origin.
It has already been reported that on December 20, the government decided to allocate funding for the first quarter of 2023 for Covid-19 testing. In total, 12.7 million euros are needed for this purpose.
Specialists in the health sector regularly analyze the incidence of Covid-19 and review the testing algorithm according to the epidemiological situation.
