MANILA, Philippines — The Valenzuela City government has shut down a medical clinic in Barangay Karuhatan for offering COVID-19 tests without a license.
In a letter dated Jan. 27, the city’s business permits and licensing office asked Bestcare Medical Clinic and Diagnostic Center to explain its side amid allegations that the clinic falsified swab test results using another laboratory’s name.
The management of the clinic did not address the allegation in its Jan. 29 response, according to city hall.
The business permit of the laboratory was suspended pending results of the investigation.
City hall said the grounds for suspension include violations of the mayor’s permit, waiver or undertaking, consumer rights and the provision of the Local Government Code on General Welfare.
The clinic also violated Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act for failing to report COVID-19 test results to the Department of Health.