The Department of Health is currently in discussions with eight private laboratories to handle the tests for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque stated that these eight laboratories have a testing capacity that’s equivalent to that of the Philippine Red Cross, who have suspended screenings due to late payments of PhilHealth in a debt that has already reached Php930 million.

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“The funds are there… Ang assurance natin sa mga private labs, h’wag po kayong mag-alala. Hindi po kayo mapi-PRC dahil subject naman talaga po for reimbursement ng PhilHealth ang test to be given to OFWs,” said Secretary Roque.

To date, the Philippine Red Cross has already conducted around 11 million COVID-19 tests which includes tests for repatriated OFWs.

The Philippine government is currently bringing swab samples to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, the Philippine General Hospital, and a laboratory in Pampanga as the ongoing suspension of PRC’s COVID-19 testing services continue.

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