Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced on Wednesday that the price cap for RT-PCR (nasal swab) test for COVID-19 should be from P3,800 to P5,000 at the maximum.
Duque said that the price cap, outlined under the Joint Administrative Order of the health and trade departments, sets the price cap of the RT-PCR test at P3,800 for public testing centers and P4,500 to P5,000 for private hospitals and laboratories.
The DOH chief said establishments caught violating the price cap would have their license to operate suspended for first and second offenses, while a third offense would mean revocation of license.
“Ito ang nabuo from market study. Meron itong batayan at hindi binunot lang from thin air,” Duque said.
“Ginawa nating price range kasi maraming variables. This gives laboratories leeway to consider variables,” he added.
RT-PCR, or real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, is considered the gold standard for testing possible COVID-19 infection.
The government finally set the RT-PCR test price cap after almost eight months since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country last March.
Also read: Senate to probe alleged overpriced DOH medical supplies
Price cap for RT-PCR COVID-19 test is P3,800 to P5K – DOH
In May, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) explained the alleged “overpriced” P8,150 COVID-19 test kit package, saying the high demand brought the high cost during the first months of the virus outbreak.
In June, under its new COVID-19 test price package, PhilHealth will pay P3,409 if the testing laboratory bought and provided all services and test kits.
However, if the test kits are donated, PhilHealth will pay P2,077, down from P5,450.
Philhealth will pay P901 if the test kit is donated, instead of P2,710 in public hospitals since lab and testing costs are included in the budget.
Then PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales said the prices dropped after the private sector stepped in and produced more test kits for the country.
As of November 24, the Department of Health has recorded 1,118 additional cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, 196 were recoveries, and 12 died.
Of the total number of cases recorded in the country, 6.3% (26,745) were active cases, 91.7% (386,792) were cured, and 1.94% (8,185) died.