COVID-19 test kits still under price cap, self-administered kits not yet approved, DTI reiterates

Philippine COVID-19 test kits are still under the mandated price caps while the sale of self-administered test kits have yet to be approved by regulators, the Trade Department reiterated Monday.

According to Trade Assistant Secretary Anne Clair Cabochan, the agency is closely coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) to address reports of overpriced testing services.

“Actually, doon sa mga nakukuha nating reports ng overpricing, kami, pareho kami ng position ng Department of Health. ‘Yung mga may overpricing ‘yung mga test kits na ‘yan is covered na ‘yan nung earlier issuance,” Cabochan said during the Laging Handa virtual briefing.

[For the reports of overpricing, we share the same position with the Department of Health that those test kits are already covered by the earlier issuance.]

President Rodrigo Duterte in November 2020 mandated both the DOH and the Department of Trade and Industry to determine a price range for COVID-19 testing conducted by hospitals, laboratories, and other health establishments.

The RT-PCR price cap ranges from P1,000 to P3,000, depending on the healthcare facility and whether it is from the public or private sector. A number of facilities have been charging much more than the ceiling.

Cabochan also on Monday reiterated that the sale of the self-administered antigen test kits are prohibited pending the clearance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Alam ko ‘yun ‘yung naging [I know that that has been] very in demand as of this time, of course that has not even been given the proper certification from the FDA to be sold here in the Philippines,” she said.

“Hindi siya dapat talaga binebenta at puwede nating habulin ‘yung nagbebenta niyan [It should not be sold and we can go after those selling] online, for as long as it is not being certified as legitimately sold in the Philippines,” she added.

In terms of the over-the-counter drugs such as paracetamol, Cabochan said inventories are expected to normalize as drugstores replenish their shelves.

“We maintain that it is not a supply issue. In fact, one of our local manufacturers has the capacity to produce over 60 million tablets a month,” she said, noting that the recent shortage was only a temporary tap out due to high demand.

“Now that replenishments have been made and there is more than enough supply, we can say that manufacturers will continue to produce as they have in the past,” she added. — RSJ, GMA News