Turnaround of COVID-19 test results to slow sans Red Cross –DOH

The turnaround time for COVID-19 test results would slow if the Philippine Red Cross decided to stop conducting RT-PCR tests paid for by PhilHealth, Dr. Eric Tayag of the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

Tayag, director of the DOH's Bureau of Local Health Development and the National Epidemiology Center, issued the warning almost two weeks after the Red Cross stopped conducting RT-PCR tests due to the state insurer’s unpaid dues of almost P1 billion.

“Kung sakaling magsasara na nga po iyan [ng tuluyan], ang DOH po ay nagbigay na ng babala sa ating mga kababayan na maaaring bumagal ng onti ng paglabas ng resulta at mababawasan ang ating testing facilities,” Tayag said during the Laging Handa briefing.

Tayag, however, added that the DOH had set up a 1555 hotline so people that needed to be tested could be referred to facilities that could accommodate them.

Likewise, Tayag’s said that DOH’s initiative of talking to at least eight laboratories to make up for the loss of the Red Cross' services was a step in the right direction.

“Hindi po puede na hindi maghahanda ang DOH para sa karagdagang testing facilities,” Tayag said.

Nevertheless, the DOH remained hopeful that the Red Cross and PhilHealth would be able to settle the matter.

“Umaasa po ang DOH iyong PRC po ay maipagpapatuloy nila ang kanilang serbisyo dahil alam naman po natin na napakarami nilang testing laboratories and other testing sites,” Tayag said.

The OCTA Research Group reported earlier that the Red Cross’ testing operations had reduced the number of reported COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas by 40 to 50 percent.

The researchers added that the Red Cross accounted for at least 38% of the COVID-19 tests done in the country.

PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Balena said earlier that PhilHealth would eventually settle its dues with the Red Cross and that a number of memorandums of agreement between the two parties were just being ironed out.

The Philippines had 371,630 COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 328,258 were recoveries with 7,059 fatalities.

The number of active COVID-19 cases was at 36,333. — DVM, GMA News