The Department of Health (DOH) is now investigating a health facility which reportedly charges more than the established price range of COVID-19 testing.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are now waiting for the explanation of the facility to determine “if it’s valid or not” or if “they should be penalized.”
The joint order of the DOH and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) states that the price ceiling for RT-PCR test is between ₱4,500 to ₱5,000 for private laboratories and ₱3,800 for public laboratories.
The DOH has earlier warned that violators of the price range may face suspension or revocation of their license as COVID-19 testing centers. Health facilities were also ordered to publicize their testing prices “whether it be in conspicuous areas like tarpaulin, or it can be through leaflets, through their menus of services, or it can be through their website.”
“Pero kailangan pa rin nilang mag-publish o mag-post para malaman ng mga pasyente kung ano yung gastos na kanilang hinaharap ‘pag sila ay pumunta diyan (They still need to publish or post to inform the patients on the expenses they are facing if they go there),” Vergeire explained.
The DOH assured it will continue to spread information to the public on the correct price of swab tests. – Report from Mark Fetalco
