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The Department of Health (DOH) will release price restrictions on Covid-19 tests next week following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order, an official said on Saturday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III had given the order to comply with Duterte’s order by early next week.
“Pinag-utos po ni Secretary Duque na dapat early part of the week, next week ay magkaroon na tayo ng issuance regarding this. So pipilitin po natin maigi na makatapos tayo at makapagsagawa ng konsultasyon, maybe Monday or Tuesday para mailabas na po natin agad ang guidelines,” Vergeire said in a Laging Handa briefing.
Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 118 on Nov. 4, ordering the DOH and the Department of Trade and Industry to impose a price ceiling on Covid-19 tests to ensure affordable and accessible testing in the country.
The EO said the price range for Covid-19 tests should be “equitable and sensitive.”
The price cap to be set will be implemented on tests conducted by hospitals, laboratories and other health establishments and facilities.
The DOH was also tasked to ensure transparency in testing prices and ensure the public is informed of the component costs in Covid-19-related medical services.
The country has recorded 393,361 Covid-19 cases as of Nov. 7. John Ezekiel J. Hirro