Rappler
Test samples for Red Cross shifted to big Metro Manila labs while PhilHealth debt unresolved
The Department of Health (DOH) is rerouting COVID-19 testing specimens to other laboratories in Metro Manila and nearby provinces after the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) stopped accepting PhilHealth-funded tests due to an outstanding debt of over P930 million.
The PRC's decision affects specimens from overseas Filipino workers, arriving travelers, mega swabbing facilities, local government units, and frontline workers.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that this is a temporary measure to ensure continuous processing of test results and that operations are not hampered.
Vergeire mentioned that guidelines have been issued to laboratories for the proper rerouting of specimens and that the government is actively discussing the issue with the PRC to find a resolution.
In a related development, the Philippine government is considering removing the requirement of RT-PCR tests for Filipinos returning from countries with a low prevalence of COVID-19.
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The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has stopped accepting COVID-19 tests funded by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) due to PhilHealth's unpaid debt of P930 million.
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The Department of Health (DOH) acknowledged that the suspension of Philippine Red Cross (PRC) PhilHealth-funded COVID-19 testing has affected its capacity to detect and report cases.
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The Palace is urging the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to resume COVID-19 testing services that will be charged to PhilHealth, despite the organization's plea for the government to pay its debt in full.
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PhilHealth is awaiting a legal opinion from the Department of Justice (DOJ) before it can settle its P930.9 million debt to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has submitted its legal opinion to PhilHealth concerning the state health insurer's agreement with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for COVID-19 testing.
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