THE current Uswag Iloilo City Molecular Laboratory in Barangay San Pedro, Molo will be converted into a clinical laboratory with the soon-to-be completion of the main facility in the area.

“As much as possible, we would like to make the lab works available for free for city residents,” Mayor Jerry Treñas said.

“It is our aim to give the Ilonggos excellent and sustainable healthcare services even beyond the pandemic,” he added.

Some of the initial services will include diagnostic laboratory tests on urine, blood, cholesterol and even ultrasound package.

The Uswag Iloilo Clinical Laboratory is targeted to operate by May this year.

Acting City Health Officer Dr. Annabelle Tang said they are planning to affiliate with universities offering medical technology course so that the clinical laboratory can serve as training ground for their students.

Meanwhile, the main Covid-19 molecular laboratory is more than 80 percent completed with its six dormitory rooms for the staff.

The City has started its own RT-PCR testing in November 2020 duly accredited by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine of the Department of Health.

As of March 12, 2022, there were 162,423 swab samples collected, with 126,296 samples tested. (PR)