No, there is no waiver of fees process in place by the Department for the parents who cannot afford DNA tests, as the fees and tariffs hereto are administered by the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS). The National Health Laboratory Service is a South African national government institution established in terms of the National Health Laboratory Service Act 37 of 2000 to provide quality, affordable and sustainable health laboratory and related public health services to all public healthcare providers, other government institutions.
The Department however has a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health regarding registration of births at health facilities. The DHA and DOH are exploring the provision of providing paternity tests free of charge or at a minimal fee to indigent clients. This will be done within the current MOA between the two departments once modalities are finalised.
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