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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Pampanga governor wants gov't to regulate RT-PCR costs

Pampanga governor wants gov't to regulate RT-PCR costs

Published Sep 5, 2020 10:29 am

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PNA) – Governor Dennis Pineda has appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) to regulate the cost of swab tests in public and private hospitals in the country.

Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda asks the Department of Health (DOH) to regulate the cost of Covid-19 swab tests in public and private hospitals in the country. The governor urged the DOH to set a price ceiling on the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, which detects or rules out SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. (Photo by provincial government of Pampanga via PNA / MANILA BULLETIN)
Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda asks the Department of Health (DOH) to regulate the cost of Covid-19 swab tests in public and private hospitals in the country. The governor urged the DOH to set a price ceiling on the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, which detects or rules out SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. (Photo by provincial government of Pampanga via PNA / MANILA BULLETIN)

The governor said on Friday that the DOH must set a price ceiling on swab tests using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology, which detects or rules out SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Pag naibaba po ang cost ng RT-PCR test, hindi lang po Kapampangan ang makikinabang kundi marami pang Pilipino. Ang aking pong apela ay sa DOH at kay Secretary Vince Dizon na siya pong designated na testing czar (Once the cost of the RT-PCR test is reduced, not only the Kapampangan will benefit but also more Filipinos. My appeal is to the DOH and Secretary Vince Dizon who is designated as testing czar),” Pineda said in a statement.

Laboratories doing RT-PCR tests in the province charge different rates.

For instance, the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) charges P3,485, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), P4,000; and the Green City Medical Center (GCMC), P6,500 excluding priority discounts and PhilHealth availment.

Aside from the cost, the governor said he was concerned about the accuracy of the test, including conditions in the laboratories, which are also regulated by DOH and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

“Gusto kong siguraduhin na tama ang mga lumalabas na results sa mga laboratories natin. Kung gagastos ang Kapampangan, gusto ko hindi masasayang ang pera nila. Mahal magpa-test and at least man lang yung resulta ay tama (I want to make sure that the results in our laboratories are correct. If Kapampangan spends, I want their money not to be wasted. To undergo testing is expensive, and at least the results are correct,” he added.

Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province reached 1,076 with 27 new cases reported on Thursday.

The total number of those who recovered from the dreaded disease was 409 while the total number of deaths was 35.

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