The National Institute of Health (INS) issues fake covid-19 certificates that test negative for the presence of the virus in the human body, each costing about 1,500 meticais, according to a report of the Center for Public Integrity (CIP).

"Effectively, negative certificates for SARS-CoV-2, or simply negative COVID-19 tests, issued by the National Institute of Health (INS), are on sale in health facilities in the nation's capital and cost 1.500 meticais each", reads the document published this Thursday, on the organization's website.

According to the research, a possible difference between positive and negative test certificates cannot be refuted, "the only difference is that those who opt for the fake certificates are not subject to the tests."

Because it doubts the quality and reliability of the tests conducted in Africa "the Canadian government has decided to ban negative certificates from molecular tests for the new Coronavirus obtained in more than half a dozen African countries, including Mozambique," it reads.

Entitled "Corruption in the Health Sector", the document says that the main stakeholders are people who want to travel abroad, mostly foreigners, although there are buyers eager to present some entity with a negative result after a previous positive one.

Acquiring fake tests requires that four steps be taken: (i) the interested party knows someone to introduce him or her to the counterfeit network; (ii) use various ways to contact a network member by phone, through apps or otherwise, to request the test(s); (iii) "you do not need to show up at a health facility where the sample is taken. Just send, by WhatsApp, a copy of the Identity Card of the person who wants to get the negative certificate of COVID-19, send the phone number of the same person and pay 1500 meticais - which can be by Mpesa transfer"; and, (iv) pick up the negative certificate 24 hours the submission of the documents and payment of the amount.

The IPC investigators say in the document that they followed the steps described above, claiming to travel to South Africa, and had negative certificates "issued by Hospital Geral José Macamo - one of the largest and most important health units in the country.

The IPC investigation is accompanied by attachments of texts exchanged between the alleged stakeholders and employee(s) of Jose Macamo Hospital, printed fake test certificate, automated messages sent by INS, and QR code scan results of the purchased SARS-CoV-2 negative certificates.

CIP considers that obtaining false covid-19 tests represents an attack on public health and discredits Mozambique in the eyes of other nations. Thus, it suggests "investigation, dismantling the networks involved in these criminal acts and holding those involved accountable... it is important that the Mozambican government carries out deep and structural reforms to reduce corruption in public institutions".

On the other hand, the organization is surprised at the inoperativeness or public manifestation of the National Criminal Investigation Service when faced with reports of the sale of covid-19 tests.