Egypt's health ministry has set a fixed cost for COVID-19 treatment at private hospitals ranging from EGP 1,500 to 10,000 (approximately $90 to $600), a document seen by Ahram Online dated Monday read.  

The decision comes one day after the prime minister issued a directive to cap the cost of coronavirus treatment at private medical facilities to correct some "exaggerated prices."

The ministry said the cost of one day in isolation at private hospitals will range from EGP 1,500 to 3,000 ($90 to $180).

Coronavirus patients in intensive care units (ICUs) will pay EGP 5,000 to 7,000 ($300 to $400) per day, and patients on ventilators will pay EGP 7,500 to 10,000 ($450 to 600).

The prices cover hospital services, medical supplies, doctors’ fees, accommodation, and testing.

Many people have taken to social media over the past days to complain about the soaring cost of one day in isolation at some private medical facilities that started to receive coronavirus patients recently.

The complaints come amid an increasing burden on public hospitals.

The virus has so far infected over 26,000 people and claimed over 1,000 lives in the country since its outbreak in mid-February.