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President Rodrigo Duterte directed the Health Department to find ways to implement free swab tests, saying that coronavirus testing is crucial to responding to the pandemic.
In a televised meeting with members of his cabinet on Monday, Duterte asked Health Secretary Fransisco Duque 3rd if the government could bear the cost of testing for the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which he said were “faces”.
“Is there any way we can spend on this test? Makabili tayo, makamura tayo? Kung may pear pa maghanap tayo. In fact, it is the sacred duty of the government to protect its citizens, ”he said.
“Tignan ko kung may pear in magbili na lang tayo in all government hospitals or maibigay natin free health centers – free of charge. Aim for the first or second trimester if you can have a program where you can review and look for the money (I’ll see if we still have funds to be able to buy and distribute it to government hospitals or health centers, free of charge. Second trimester if you can have a program where I can review and look for the money), ”Duterte told Duque.
The president said he realized the importance of Covid testing in the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Kasi mahal (it’s expensive), I’m trying to find a cheaper way to do it and will discuss it with [Secretary Duque] Y [vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.] how to get cheaper swabs and tests, “he said. “If we really want to prevent and limit the virus, the government itself must carry out the tests.”
Duque said Philippine Health Insurance Corp. pays for the cost of the swab tests.
He informed the president that the cost of Covid-19 swab tests in private laboratories ranges between 4,500 and 5,000 pesos.
Tests cost up to P3,800 in government labs.
On Tuesday, Malacañang addressed criticism that the president was slow to realize the importance of Covid-19 testing.
#Internetexplorer was trending on Twitter on Tuesday when the public criticized the president for saying that he just realized that testing for Covid-19 is important in preventing the spread of Covid-19.
“We have always prioritized testing, nandiyan po si Vince Dizon as testing czar and now we have one of the highest testing capabilities in the world,” said presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
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