Palace favors move to post list of COVID-19 test prices of various labs in DOH website

December 14, 2020

Malacanang expressed support on Monday proposal to post in the website of the Department of Health (DOH) list of laboratories conducting RT-PCR tests and their corresponding prices for public reference.

In a televised press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it would also be better to include in the post if there is extra charge for the certification.

"We're 100 percent supportive and we hope they also include in the list if there is extra charge on the certification so that they (people) know the entire amount of the charge for the PCR test and certification," he said.

Roque said he would again release the list of laboratories nationwide that collect only P1,700 to P2,000 for RT-PCR testing.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier issued an executive order putting a price cap for RT-PCR tests.

The Department of of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry have placed the price limit at P3,800 per test in public laboratories while P4,500 to P5,000 in private laboratories.

There were reports some private laboratories just got the specimen of the individuals and sent them to government laboratories for cheaper expenses and yet they collect higher fees.

Roque said testing czar Vivencio Dizon has vowed to look into this.

"He (Dizon) welcomes absolute transparency," he said.

He also urged the public to report to the authorities private laboratories, which are collecting higher fees and yet getting services of the public laboratories to process the results of the swab tests.

"Tell us because it's not proper that they are charging higher fees," he added. Celerina Monte/DMS