The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) had sought an urgent inclusion of saliva RT-PCR tests in the PhilHealth benefit package.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) had called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to take immediate action on its request to include the saliva reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test in the state health insurer’s benefit package.
In a report on Manila Bulletin, Philippine Red Cross Chairman Senator Richard Gordon said that he can’t understand why PhilHealth was dragging its feet to take action on their proposed inclusion of the saliva RT-PCR test in the PhilHealth benefit package.
“Ang PhilHealth as usual tinatake ang time, eh bakit kaya? Eh heto na nga pinababa na natin ang presyo para hindi masyaodng mahirapan ang mga taga Philhealth from P3,409 ang test na ito ay P2,000 at ito ay talagang dumaan sa scientific research. Eh bakit anong rason? Baka naman meron kayong prinoproteksyunan na naginvest ng malaki dyan sa saliva test,” Gordon said in a radio interview.
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Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III had allowed the “private use” of the saliva RT-PCR test, the Philippine Red Cross had to secure the approval of the Department of Health – Health Technology Assessment Council (DOH-HTAC) before they can launch such test for public use.
Dr. Paulyn Ubial, the head of Philippine Red Cross’ Molecular Laboratory, said in the same radio interview that PhilHealth had yet to act on their request. According to Ubial, there’s no PhilHealth benefit package for their saliva RT-PCR test as of this writing.
“Ito po ay ating pina-follow up rin at kailangan pa po ng Board Resolution para maipasok sa PhilHealth,” Ubial said.
Since the Philippine Red Cross launched its saliva RT-PCR tests in late January 2021, it had served around 9, 650 individuals so far.
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