SWAB tests for Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), should cost only P4,500 to P5,000 in privately owned laboratories and P3,800 in government-owned facilities.
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III announced this price range for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests during a virtual press conference Wednesday, November 25, 2020. RT-PCR tests, which detects the virus in nasopharyngeal swab specimens, are commonly known as swab tests.
Those found overpricing will be penalized as follows: 15-day suspension of license to operate and an administrative fine of P20,000 for the first offense: 30-day suspension of license to operate and and an administrative fine of P30,000 for the second offense; and revocation of license to operate for the third offense.
These are contained in the joint administrative order (JAO) that the DOH and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) signed on Tuesday, November 24, Duque said.
The JAO was in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 118, which directed the two government agencies to set and implement a price range for Covid-19 test kits and conduct of tests to ensure that these are affordable and accessible to all.
“In determining the price ranges, we strive to ensure that they are just, equitable and sensitive to all stakeholders,” Duque said.
He said the price range was arrived at after an extensive market research conducted by experts.
At present, some privately owned laboratories charge P8,000 to P10,000 for a test. They were not happy with the price range, Duque admitted.
“S’yempre, masasama ang loob nila. Pero kaya nga natin inilabas itong JAO, para maibsan itong ganitong mga abuso. HIndi tama ‘yung nagsasamantala tayo sa panahon ng pandemya,” he said.
(Of course, they are not happy. But we came up with the JAO to guard against abuses. It’s not right to take advantage during a pandemic.)
Duque said consumers may report any violation to the monitoring, evaluation and enforcement unit that the DOH and DTI will create to enforce the price range. (Marites Villamor-Ilano/SunStar Philippines)