HK$8.4 billion spent on free PCR tests at Hong Kong community centres over past 2 years, with 40 million screenings carried out

Official statistics also reveal that operating community isolation facilities for Covid-19 patients cost about HK$1.4 billion for the 13 months to January 31 this year

Cost of each PCR test rose from HK$206 to HK$215 despite more vendors joining the scheme

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About 40 million PCR tests were carried out for free over two years. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 3:55pm, 12 Apr 2023Updated: 9:47pm, 12 Apr 2023

Hong Kong spent more than HK$8.4 billion (US$1.07 billion) on nearly 40 million free Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at community facilities over the past two years, accounting for some of the government’s biggest spending in relation to the pandemic.

Statistics provided to lawmakers on Tuesday also revealed that public spending on running community isolation facilities for Covid-19 patients for the 13 months to January amounted to about HK$1.4 billion.

The Health Bureau said roughly HK$2.6 billion was spent on free screening offered at community testing centres and mobile stations in the 2021-22 financial year, involving 12.5 million tests. The figures more than doubled the following financial year, with 27.2 million tests provided at a cost of more than HK$5.8 billion.

The spending did not include free testing offered to arrivals at the Hong Kong International Airport, people in isolation facilities or patients at public hospitals.

The Penny’s Bay quarantine camp on Lantau Island. Photo: Sam Tsang

While the number of vendors providing screening that joined the community screening service rose from nine to 15 in the two financial years, the cost of each test increased from HK$206 to HK$215 over the same period.

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