Manila Bulletin
Palace: Gov't uses only COVID-19 test kits that conform to WHO, FDA, RITM standards
The Philippine government assures the public that it exclusively uses COVID-19 test kits that meet the stringent standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles emphasized that all testing kits, whether procured or donated, undergo thorough vetting by the RITM to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Nograles appealed to donors to prioritize test kits that have already received approval from the Department of Health (DOH) to expedite their deployment in the country.
This measure aims to prevent delays caused by the evaluation of unapproved test kit types, allowing for faster distribution of essential diagnostic tools.
The government expressed gratitude for the donations received from various countries, private organizations, and individuals, including significant contributions from China.
A previous confusion regarding discarded test kits from China was clarified, with the DOH issuing an apology and stating that the kits in question were from a private foundation and not the Chinese government.
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The Department of Health (DOH) clarified that initial batches of donated coronavirus testing kits from China, specifically 2,000 BGI RT-PCR kits and 100,000 Sansure RT-PCR kits, have been assessed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and found to be at par with World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
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Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assured the Chinese Embassy in Manila that the COVID-19 testing kits donated by the Chinese government are functional and meet the required standards.
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The Philippine government will refuse the importation and donation of COVID-19 test kits that lack approval from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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The Department of Health (DOH) has received a donation of 100,000 test kits for COVID-19 from the Chinese government.
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