A health official said Thursday that the suspension of the Philippine Red Cross’ (PRC) PhilHealth-funded COVID-19 testing has affected the Department of Health’s (DOH) detection and reporting of cases.
Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire recognized the PRC’s contribution in the daily testing outputs of the DOH and its laboratories when it comes to reporting of COVID-19 cases.
“Makikita natin na malalaki talaga yung laboratoryo nila, yung kanilang kapasidad at it’s distributed across different areas of the country,” she said.
“So yes, we were affected by the stopping of the operations of the Philippine Red Cross,” she added.
On October 15, Red Cross stopped processing COVID-19 tests of those listed in the Department of Health’s expanded testing guidelines (DOH) per its memorandum no. 2020-0258-A, including overseas Filipino workers, individuals through the mega swabbing facilities and local government units, frontline health and government workers, and those arriving in airports and seaports.
According to Philippine Red Cross, PhilHealth needs to pay its overdue balance of P930,993,000 before they resume their service.
For now, Vergeire said the DOH had identified 11 government laboratories to process specimens that were previously covered by PRC.
Also read: Palace hopeful Philippine Red Cross will resume testing
COVID-19 testing affected by PH Red Cross issue – DOH
“Meron tayong 11 government facilities na ating na-identify, nilagay natin sa zone and they are now receiving the specimens coming from the different areas na kailangang ma-test,” she said.
“Also merong mga private laboratories which they have expressed their interest na sila ay tutulong sa gobyerno para maibsan itong mga nagkakaroon tayo ng mga bottlenecks because of the stoppage of the operations of the Philippine Red Cross,” she added.
The DOH official also recognized the contribution of private laboratories in increasing the country’s COVID-19 testing capacity.
“We cannot discount the fact that the private laboratories would always have that advantage. They have the resources; they have the capability to establish quick and fast laboratories,” she said.
“The PRC hindi naman yan iba sa atin, parang kasama na natin sa gobyerno yan. Nagkataon lang dahil affected ang operations nila because of the funds na kailangan kaya medyo natitigil ang operasyon,” she added.