Price range for COVID-19 testing set

CEBU, Philippines — A more affordable COVID-19 test has been set by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte.

DOT and DTI have issued a joint administrative order (JAO) putting a price ceiling on the cost of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests used to detect COVID-19 to ensure its affordability.

This is seen to regulate the prices of COVID diagnostic test amid varying costs in laboratories.

Under the JAO, the price range for COVID-19 testing is P4,500(minimum) and P5,000 (maximum) for private laboratories, while P3,800 for public laboratories.

Facilities, including those under a public-private partnership agreement, though may charge lesser than the reference price providing that quality of service shall still be maintained.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque said the price range is expected to promote “quality, equitable access and affordability” to COVID-19 testing.

“With this Joint Administrative Order, the government seeks to strike a balance of equity, access, and consumer’s choice. In determining the price ranges, we strived to ensure that they are just, equitable, and sensitive to all stakeholders,” he said.

With the order, laboratories are expected to lower their prices without going out of business.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, for his part, said regulating the testing prices is important as the country resumes economic activity.

“We have been seeing signs of recovery. And with the increased testing capacity of our country, the demand for testing has also increased. This policy is an opportunity for the government to regulate the prices of testing to make it more affordable and accessible to all Filipinos,” he said.

Public and private licensed COVID-19 testing laboratories were surveyed to determine the price range.

Factors including geographic location, ownership, brand, type of test and extraction machine, facility set-up, and turn-around time were also considered.

The JAO also underwent a series of consultations and negotiations, stakeholder reviews, and technical deliberation before coming up with the said guidelines.

Upon effectivity of the JAO on November 30, prices will be made transparent and readily-available for the public to access, and will be subject to monthly monitoring to ensure that it remains fair amidst current developments.

The JAO, however, only covers the price range for plate-based RT-PCR testing.

Supplemental guidelines on per item costing and price range of test kits and other testing modalities, such as cartridge-based RT-PCR tests, and antigen tests, among others will also be issued separately.

Earlier this month, Duterte issued Executive Order 118 to ensure equitable and affordable access to COVID-19 tests and test kits in hospitals, laboratories and other health establishments and facilities licensed by DOH.

Even with this development, Duque said the minimum public health standards like wearing of face mask, physical or social distancing and regular washing of hands will have to be continuously observed to minimize or prevent viral transmission.

“While the objective of this endeavor is to make COVID-19 testing accessible and affordable to all, I would like to underscore that we need to remain vigilant -- strictly adhering to our minimum public health standards of mask wearing, hand hygiene, and physical distancing.”

“Ito po ay upang maprotektahan hindi lang ating mga sarili, kung hindi, lalung lalo na ang mga mahal natin sa buhay. Kasabay ng pagpatupad ng price range, ang ating pagiging BIDA Solusyon ang pinakamagandang regalo ng kalusugan, kaligtasan, at kinabukasan para sa lahat,” he said in a press statement.

BIDA stands for Bawal walang mask, Isanitize ang mga kamay, Dumistansya ng isang metro and Alamin ang totoong impormasyon.

Moreover, Lopez also echoed Duque’s call as the country gradually reopens its economy.

“The health and safety of Filipinos remain our top priority, even as we gradually reopen the economy. As emphasized by DOH Sec. Duque, we need to remain vigilant and continue to adhere to the minimum health protocols. This will not only ensure the safety of our countrymen, but also secure their jobs and sources of income,” he said. — KQD (FREEMAN)