DOH tightens up on COVID testing labs that fail to report results on time

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has suspended one laboratory for continuously failing to submit its COVID-19 test results on time.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday said the DOH suspended the license of the laboratory, which she did not name, last Dec. 29.

“We are able to suspend the license of one of the big laboratories last December 29 because of this continuous non-compliance to our reportorial requirement,” she said in an online media forum.

Four other laboratories are also facing possible suspension of their license for the same reason, she added.

Vergeire said the health department has been issuing warnings to laboratories who fail to submit their test results on time but there are still facilities that are non-compliant.

The DOH reminded all testing facilities to submit their test results on time, otherwise, their licenses could be suspended.

“We would just like to remind all facilities na kahit tayo ay nasa pandemya, kung talagang hindi namin kayo mahihikayat na tumugon sa mga hiling ng ating gobyerno na tumulong kayo sa amin ay hindi rin mapapayagan na mag-continue kayo ng operations because these are requirements for your license to be sustained,” she said.

(We would just like to remind all facilities that even though we are in a pandemic, if you can’t comply with the requirements, we cannot allow you to continue your operations.)

EDV