DOH Releases COVID-19 Tests' New Price Caps Starting September 6

Update on Price Caps Set by DOH for COVID-19 Tests

DOH – The Department of Health released the new price caps for the COVID-19 tests which will be implemented starting September 6.

The Philippines is still grappling with the demands and risks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been more than a year now since the first case of coronavirus was recorded in the country and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a pandemic.

Unfortunately, many people have already fallen amid the fight against the spread of COVID-19. Some of them are doctors, nurses, and medical workers who are frontliners in the fight against the pandemic.

The fight against the virus recently required intensified defense and measures following the emergence of new variants of the disease. The world is alarmed by the Delta variant.

First recorded in India, the Delta variant caught attention with its higher transmissibility rate. Several countries across the globe including the Philippines have logged cases of the said disease.

In fact, in the pursuit to prevent the spread of the Delta variant, Metro Manila and several other provinces were previously under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) measure for two (2) weeks. Currently, the capital region is under a Modified ECQ until September 7, 2021.

Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, starting September 6, there are new price caps for the COVID-19 tests as set by the Department of Health. There is a reduction of over P1,000.00.

Currently, the RT-PCR Test “gold standard” costs around Php 3,800.00 in most public laboratories and up to Php 5,000.00 in private laboratories. According to DOH, here is a list of the new price caps for the COVID-19 tests to be implemented starting September 6, 2021: