DOH talking to 8 labs to handle testing for returning Filipinos —Palace

At least eight private laboratories are being eyed by the Department of Health to handle the COVID-19 tests for returning Filipinos, Malacañang said Monday, after the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) stopped processing samples due to the government’s unpaid debt.

“Nakikipag-usap po sila ngayon, as we speak now, to eight private labs to assist our OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] and returning Filipinos dahil hindi naman po pupuwede na maantala ang pag-uwi ng ating mga OFWs and returning Filipinos,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told a news conference.

Roque said the eight laboratories had a combined testing capacity equivalent to that of the PRC. The COVID-19 tests of OFWs will be shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

“Lahat naman po ng mga private labs providers know how they can collect from PhilHealth,” he said.

The PRC stopped COVID-19 tests chargeable to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) after October 14 until the state insurer paid its overdue balance of P930.9 million.

PhilHealth said last Friday that it would pay off its debt to the PRC for COVID-19 tests this week.

However, the state insurer said its payments to the humanitarian organization would be subject to completeness of billing requirements submitted by the PRC, and in compliance with Commission on Audit rules. — BM, GMA News