At least seven private laboratories will conduct COVID-19 swab tests for OFWs, according to DOH.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported that at least seven private laboratories were set to conduct swab tests for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other affected sectors.
This, as the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) still wasn’t providing COVID-19 swab testing services for those who used their PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) cards as payment guarantee.
In a virtual briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Vergeire said that private labs had offered to help in addressing the “bottleneck” in COVID-19 swab testing.
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In a report on Philstar, the said private labs were the following:
- AFRIMS
- Biopath Clinical Diagnostic in Makati, E. Rodriguez and Cebu
- First Aide Diagnostic Centre
- Macacare Medical
- Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory
- Detoxicare Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory
- Lord’s Grace Medical and Industrial Clinic
Vergeire admitted that the daily number of COVID-19 lab tests had been affected after the Philippine Red Cross decided to stop doing these pending the payment of PhilHealth’s debt.
According to Vergeire, the Department of Health was still determining if the low number of newly-reported COVID-19 cases for the past several days was due to Philippine Red Cross’ decision to stop doing COVID-19 swab tests for PhilHealth members.
“We are now checking so we can provide an accurate response”, Vergeire said.
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