The Department of Health said Wednesday prices of swab or RT-PCR tests for COVID-19 will be capped immediately to help the public deal with the pandemic.
For public hospitals, laboratories and health centers, the price of RT-PCR tests will be capped at P3,800. For private institutions, a price range of P4,500-P5,000 was set, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.
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The price caps were set with the help of the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that RT-PCR testing is "equitable" and the public has multiple choices, he said.
The price caps will be monitored monthly for fairness, he said. The RT-PCR or swab test is considered the gold standard in testing since it detects the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from samples taken from the mouth and throat.
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