DOST allots P53.2M for local COVID-19 test kits

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has allotted P53.2 million for the local development of COVID-19 test kits by the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health (UP-NIH).

These locally developed test kits, with technology from a team led by Dr. Raul V. Destura, were manufactured by Manila HealthTek Inc.

The field validation of these test kits is scheduled to conclude by April 1, with the Food and Drug Administration Philippines (FDA) anticipated to issue a Certificate of Product Registration by April 3.

A portion of these kits, specifically 26,000 tests funded by DOST and UP-NIH, will be distributed to key hospitals from April 4 to 25, including Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City, Baguio General Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, and Southern Philippines Medical Center.

The remaining kits were intended to be offered commercially at approximately P1,300 per kit, significantly lower than the P8,000 price of imported test kits.

The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act mandated the President to expedite the accreditation of testing kits and facilitate prompt testing of suspected cases.