Philippines' COVID-19 testing centers insufficient –PMA exec

Philippine Medical Association president Jose Santiago Jr, MD, said Sunday that the number of testing centers in the country for coronavirus disease 2019 is not enough.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Dr. Santiago noted that more testing is needed to speed up the diagnosis symptoms of infected people.

“Kulang na kulang talaga ang ating mga testing center, in fact maraming naka-pending na application ngayon para sa mga testing center,” he added.

He called for a faster approval and certification by the Department of Health of laboratories to intensify mass testing.

According to Santiago, there are 74 laboratories applying to the Department of DOH to be certified as testing centers for COVID-19.

As of Saturday, the DOH has certified only 20 laboratories as testing centers. From the testing capacity goal of 8,000 tests daily, the DOH recorded 4,493 tests on Friday.

The department said it is expecting to add 3,000 more tests per day as Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital will begin its operation as a testing center on May 10.

“DOH is continuously working with laboratories undergoing the licensing process for COVID-19 testing,” the department said in an update on Saturday.

“In coordination with the Inter-Agency Task Force, DOH expects to increase testing capacity to 30,000 tests per day by the end of May,” it added. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News