Nograles opposes 'premium' testing in COVID-19 laboratories

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Sunday said he is not in favor of premium testing fees in molecular laboratories conducting COVID-19 tests, adding that it causes cutting in line for testing.

In an interview over Dobol B TV, Nograles lamented that premium testing or paying higher cost to speed up test results is being prioritized over those who paid the standard cost for testing.

"Ako personally dapat 'di naglalagay ng premium. Kapag nilalagyan mo ng premium, kung baga parang nalalaktawan mo ang linya. Nagpri-prioritize ka, medyo 'yung mga nauna, nasisingitan ng priority o premium," Nograles said, adding that they are coordinating with molecular laboratories nationwide to speed up testing.

(For me, personally, laboratories should not impose premium testing. If you put a premium then you are allowing others to cut in line. If you are prioritizing testing, then premium will get ahead of those who got tested first.) 

Meanwhile, Nograles said they already distributed antigen test kits in NCR Plus bubble areas (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna) to intensify testing and ramp up contact tracing.

"Siyempre dahil ang center of gravity sa NCR Plus dito namin binagsak at binahagi ang antigen test kits," Nograles said.

(Since NCR Plus is the center of gravity for the pandemic, we distributed antigen test kits there.)

On Saturday, Philippines registered a total of 1,138,187 COVID-19 cases. Of the number, 1,062,427 have recovered, 56,709 are active, and 19,051 died. —KG, GMA News