BY GENALYNKABILING
A “just and equitable” price range for coronavirus testing will be implemented to ensure it will be accessible and affordable to the people based on a latest order from President Duterte.
The President issued Executive Order No. 118 directing the Department of Health (DoH) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure the accessibility and affordability of COVID-19 tests and test kits.
“It is a priority of the State to ensure that the general public, especially those from low and middle income households, have an equitable access to quality and affordable health care services such as COVID-19 tests,” the order read.
The health department earlier recommended to the President to mandate a price cap for coronavirus swab tests in hospitals and other health facilities.
The proposed regulation of the COVID tests came after health authorities monitored the varying costs in laboratories.
Under EO 118, the President said the DoH, in coordination with the DTI, to “determine, formulate and implement a price range for COVID-19 testing conducted by hospitals, laboratories and other health facilities as well as the test kits used subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.
“The DoH and the DTI shall ensure that the price range for COVID-19 testing and test kits is just, equitable and sensitive to all stakeholders,” the order read.
In the same order, the President imposed the compliance with the price range as an additional requirement for the licensing and accreditation of COVID testing facilities. The DOH has been directed to release issuances directing all COVID testing facilities to observe the price range of the testing. Failure to comply may be considered as a ground for the revocation of existing licenses or accreditation.
To promote transparency, the President directed the DoH to implement measures to ensure COVID laboratories would observe transparency in the pricing of tests. The public must be informed of the component costs of medical services and procedures.
