Labs can charge COVID-19 swab tests at prices lower than the rate set by the Philippine government, according to DOH and DTI.
The Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday clarified that public and private laboratories were allowed to charge COVID-19 swab tests at prices lower than the price cap set by the Philippine government.
This, as the Department of Health and Department of Trade and Industry noted that some laboratories had been hesitant to lower their prices for COVID-19 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test due to the reference amount indicated in DOH Circular No. 2020-0391.
In a joint statement, the Department of Health and Department of Trade and Industry stressed that lowering the price of swab tests was allowed, provided that the quality of service was maintained.
The Department of Health and Department of Trade and Industry assured that no penalty would be imposed on laboratories that would lower their rates for RT-PCR tests.
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Also, the Department of Health and Department of Trade and Industry said that punishment would only apply to laboratories that charge more than the imposed maximum price cap of PHP 5,000.00 for private laboratories and PHP 3,800.00 for public laboratories.
“Further, it must be noted that the amounts indicated as price caps are subject to periodic review and may change depending on prevalent economic factors,” the joint statement read.
Moreover, the Department of Health and Department of Trade and Industry said that they would continue to monitor, evaluate, and enforce the government-set prices in order to ensure that COVID-19 testing would remain affordable and of quality in the Philippines.
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