MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is constantly monitoring the global supply chain for test kits for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a bid to ramp up the country’s testing capacity, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Friday.
“The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, the Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Management really look at the global supply chain,” he said in an online press briefing.
“Talagang minomonitor namin yan, minomonitor ng DBM kung saan yung available na pwedeng ma-procure natin,” Duque added.
(We really monitor this, the DBM monitors where supplies are available.)
Duque admitted that ramping up the country’s testing capacity is hampered by the a shortage in supply of equipment and material essential in detecting the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19.
“Minsan nakaka-frustrate kasi minsan nag-order tayo, 25% lang yung makakarating. Talagang dinudugo kami rito eh, talagang halos araw-araw ito ang tinututkan natin eh,” he said.
(Sometimes, it’s frustrating that when we order, only 25% arrive in the country. We are really having difficulties here, we monitor this almost everyday.)
DOH has been working towards an “expanded testing” or “targeted testing” although it missed its goal of 8,000 tests per day by the end of April.
It is now aiming to increase the country’s testing capacity for COVID-19 to 30,000 tests per day by the end of May, as this will be able to give a “complete picture” of the pandemic in the country and will enable the government to come up with policies suited to address the crisis.
Unlike mass testing, “expanded testing” or “targeted testing” intends to broaden the scope of tests to include and prioritize exposed but asymptomatic patients and healthcare workers.