DOH sets price cap for antigen test kits at P350

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has set the price cap for COVID-19 antigen test kits at P350.

Based on DOH Circular No. 2021-0323-B dated January 28, 2022 and released to the media on Tuesday, the price cap for a “SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid diagnostic test kit” will be P350 from the previous P500.

Meanwhile, the price cap for COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic testing service will be P660, inclusive of the P350 price cap for a test kit, P250 worth of operational cost, and P60 as 10-percent allowable mark-up. This was a decrease from the previous P960 total cost for the antigen testing service.

“Antigen rapid diagnostic test kits subsidized or donated by the DOH and other government agencies to DOH licensed public and private health facilities and clinical laboratories shall be provided at zero cost to individuals. Only items directly procured by DOH-licensed health facilities and clinical laboratories and not provided by DOH can be charged,” the department said in its circular.

“Moreover, DOH licensed health facilities and clinical laboratories may have prices lower than the prescribed price cap for antigen rapid diagnostic testing, provided that quality of services is maintained,” it added.

Meanwhile, the price cap for self-administered antigen rapid diagnostic test kits is also at P350. The DOH set a price cap for self-administered antigen test kits after the Food and Drug Administration approved some brands offering the said product.

READ: FDA okays 2 brands of COVID-19 home testing kits

The updated price caps for antigen test kits and testing services will take effect starting February 20, according to the circular.

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