Palace to DOH: increase actual daily COVID-19 tests
Published May 28, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
Malacañang has called on the Department of Health (DOH) to increase the actual daily coronavirus tests in the country after the number fell short of the country's estimated testing capacity.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“I’m sure there is a learning curve but I’m hoping the DOH also will take steps para mapataas 'yung (to raise the) actual testing being conducted,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during a Palace press briefing aired on state television.
Roque earlier trumpeted that the country's testing capacity already reached 32,100 per day last May 20, surpassing the 30,000 goal by end of May. The country so far has 42 accredited testing facilities that propelled the national testing capacity.
The health department later clarified the national testing capacity refers to the capacity of the country's licensed laboratories, not the actual tests conducted. Health authorities have reportedly conducted average of 8,500 to 9,500 actual tests per day in recent days.
To hasten the detection and isolation of coronavirus patients, Roque said the government has formed a partnership with the private sector to ramp up the targeted testing in the country. He noted that the Philippine National Red Cross currently has the biggest testing laboratory.
He said they hope the testing will be further enhanced especially with the anticipated influx of more returning overseas Filipino workers in the coming months.
"Let’s just say po na mas marami pang Pilipinong uuwi at lahat po sila bibigyan ng PCR (polymerase) testing (there will be more Filipinos coming home and all will be given PCR testing). I’m hoping that the DOH can actually increase the number of tests that are being done," he said.
He said the government would also continue to enhance the healthcare capacity of public hospitals and accredit more testing facilities.
"Last week po, nagkaroon tayo ng 10,000 additional testing capacity dahil binigyan na natin ng makina at testing kits ang mga probinsiya para ang mga OFWs na uuwi na ay doon na rin sila magka-quarantine while waiting for PCR results (Last week, we gained an additional 10,000 testing capacity because we gave machines and testing kits to the provinces so the returning OFWs can undergo quarantine there while waiting for PCR results),” he said.
The government aims to raise the number of testing facilities from the existing 42 to 66 by the end of the month.
With the increased national testing capacity, Roque recently said the next step is to improve efficiency so laboratories are capable of using that capacity to the highest level possible. He said it was imperative to improve human resources through proficiency training, especially on the use of automated machine, improve the supply chain management of critical supplies for the laboratories, and improve data management to verify and release results faster.
"Government cannot do this alone and we appreciate the initiatives of the private sector under the T3 Coalition in reaching our initial target ahead of our set deadline," he added.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“I’m sure there is a learning curve but I’m hoping the DOH also will take steps para mapataas 'yung (to raise the) actual testing being conducted,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during a Palace press briefing aired on state television.
Roque earlier trumpeted that the country's testing capacity already reached 32,100 per day last May 20, surpassing the 30,000 goal by end of May. The country so far has 42 accredited testing facilities that propelled the national testing capacity.
The health department later clarified the national testing capacity refers to the capacity of the country's licensed laboratories, not the actual tests conducted. Health authorities have reportedly conducted average of 8,500 to 9,500 actual tests per day in recent days.
To hasten the detection and isolation of coronavirus patients, Roque said the government has formed a partnership with the private sector to ramp up the targeted testing in the country. He noted that the Philippine National Red Cross currently has the biggest testing laboratory.
He said they hope the testing will be further enhanced especially with the anticipated influx of more returning overseas Filipino workers in the coming months.
"Let’s just say po na mas marami pang Pilipinong uuwi at lahat po sila bibigyan ng PCR (polymerase) testing (there will be more Filipinos coming home and all will be given PCR testing). I’m hoping that the DOH can actually increase the number of tests that are being done," he said.
He said the government would also continue to enhance the healthcare capacity of public hospitals and accredit more testing facilities.
"Last week po, nagkaroon tayo ng 10,000 additional testing capacity dahil binigyan na natin ng makina at testing kits ang mga probinsiya para ang mga OFWs na uuwi na ay doon na rin sila magka-quarantine while waiting for PCR results (Last week, we gained an additional 10,000 testing capacity because we gave machines and testing kits to the provinces so the returning OFWs can undergo quarantine there while waiting for PCR results),” he said.
The government aims to raise the number of testing facilities from the existing 42 to 66 by the end of the month.
With the increased national testing capacity, Roque recently said the next step is to improve efficiency so laboratories are capable of using that capacity to the highest level possible. He said it was imperative to improve human resources through proficiency training, especially on the use of automated machine, improve the supply chain management of critical supplies for the laboratories, and improve data management to verify and release results faster.
"Government cannot do this alone and we appreciate the initiatives of the private sector under the T3 Coalition in reaching our initial target ahead of our set deadline," he added.