DOH wants Palace to regulate prices of swab tests

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Department of Health on Monday said it is asking the Office of the President to regulate the price of COVID-19 tests, especially swab tests.“Nakapagsubmit na kami sa Office of the President ng recommendation for an executive order (EO) issuance dahil napansin nating itong iba-iba, differential pricing across the different laboratories in the country,&quot; ,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a virtual briefing.(We have submitted to the Office o the President the recommendation for an executive order issuance. Because we noticed the differential pricing across the different laboratories in the country.)Vergeire said they particularly saw the disparity in the prices of swab tests. Laboratories charge as low as P3,000 to as high as P12,000 for a swab or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The PCR test is considered the gold standard in COVID-19 testing and is the only way to confirm if a patient has the virus.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/10/20/covid-19-coronavirus-disease-pcr-testing-prices-hospitals-laboratories-in-the-philippines">COVID-19 test in the Philippines: Where to go and how much you should pay</a></li></ul>“Ito ay inaantay natin na bigyan tayo ng tugon kung saka-sakaling ito ay maaprubahan,” she said of the EO. (We are just waiting to a response in case this is approved.)Vergeire said they asked for an EO because there is already a law on the setting of a price ceiling for medicines.“Pero hindi nakasama kasi &#x27;yung diagnostics and even professional fees. That is what we have tried to study at ito po ang ating hinihiling baka for this pandemic situation - we would be able to have this executive order so that we can somehow regulate the prices of swabs or the prices of testing for COVID-19,” she said.(But the law did not include diagnostic tests or even professional fees. That is what we have tried to study and that is what we are asking for this pandemic situation - we would be able to have this executive order so that we can somehow regulate the prices of swabs or the prices of testing for COVID-19.)

MANILA — The Department of Health on Monday said it has already asked Malacanang to regulate the price of COVID-19 tests, especially swab tests.

MANILA — The Department of Health on Monday said it has already asked Malacanang to regulate the price of COVID-19 tests, especially swab tests.

DOH wants Palace to regulate prices of swab tests | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

News

DOH wants Palace to regulate prices of swab tests

DOH wants Palace to regulate prices of swab tests

Kristine Sabillo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 21, 2020 11:58 AM PHT

|

Updated Sep 21, 2020 12:00 PM PHT

Read More:

COVID-19

coronavirus

COVID-19 cases in the Philippines

COVID-19 laboratories

Department of Health

PCR tests

COVID-19 test kits

COVID-19 testing in the Philippines

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.