The Department of Health is currently in discussion with 8 private laboratories to assume the coronavirus testing load by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which suspended tests charged to PhilHealth due after the state insurer failed to settle its P930-million debt, Malacañang said Monday.
The 8 labs have a testing capacity “equivalent” to that of the PRC, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
“The funds are there… Ang assurance natin sa mga private labs, h’wag po kayong mag-alala. Hindi po kayo mapi-PRC dahil subject naman talaga po for reimbursement ng PhilHealth ang test to be given to OFWs.”
[Our assurance to private labs is they should not worry.You will not suffer the fate of PRC because the test to be given to OFWs is really subject to reimbursement by PhilHealth.]
About 1.1 million coronavirus tests were conducted by PRC, which takes up about a quarter of the country’s total 4.3 million tests.
