MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) will turn to private testing centers to carry out coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests for returning overseas Filipino workers, Malacañang said.
According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the move came after the refusal of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to resume its services as the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has yet to settle its P931-million debt.
“Habang wala pa pong kasunduan na magtutuloy ang Philippine National Red Cross sa pagbibigay ng COVID-19 tests ay gumagawa naman po ng hakbang ang DOH,” Roque said in Monday’s virtual press conference.
“Nakikipag-usap po ang DOH sa eight private labs to assist. Dahil hindi naman po pupuwede na maantala ang pag-uwi ng ating mga OFWs and returning Filipinos,” he added.
Last week, the PRC stopped accepting specimens from returning Filipinos, mega swabbing facilities and local government units, among others, due to mounting unpaid debt.
PRC was responsible for about one million COVID-19 tests, or nearly a fourth of the country’s total 3.8 million tests.
Roque also clarified that returning Filipinos will still undergo swab specimen collections at the ports. Samples are then tested to laboratories run by public hospitals.
“‘Wag po kayong mag-alala, hindi po kayo mapi-PRC dahil subject naman talaga for reimbursement ng PhilHealth ang tests to be given to OFWs,” Roque said.
The spokesperson added that the Department of Justice (DOJ), in its legal opinion, saw no impediment in the COVID-19 testing agreement between the PhilHealth and the PRC.
The DOJ cited Section 6 of the Universal Healthcare Act which authorizes PhilHealth to enter into a contract with any institution or professional in the delivery of health services.
“Ang DOJ opinion po says na wala pong impediment na makipagkasundo ang PhilHealth sa [PRC] to provide delivery of health services gaya ng COVID testing,” Roque said.
In the case of the P100-million advanced payment made by PhilHealth to PRC under the agreement, the DOJ said such payments should be approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.
”It is not clear from the documents submitted to us whether such authority was obtained,” Roque said. “Nonetheless, even if the [PhilHealth] failed to get such approval prior to remitting the amount to the PRC we’re of the opinion that such be obtained post facto.”/PN
