Ang mahal kasi: Colmenares asks gov’t to offer free or subsidized COVID testing

More than a year into the pandemic, COVID testing in the country remains expensive even if it doesn’t have to be.

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares has called on the government to offer free or subsidized coronavirus testing program to quickly detect, isolate, and treat those with the illness.

He issued the appeal after the price of a coronavirus test remains beyond the reach of ordinary Filipinos. He said the prohibitive cost of the COVID-19 test is discouraging people from getting tested.

Testing is considered one of the key protocols to effectively contain the spread of the coronavirus but the country’s testing rate remains low amid pricing concerns.

“The prohibitive cost discourages people from getting tested, leading to failure to detect and stop the spread of the virus. Kaya ang panawagan namin noon pa, dapat libre or heavily subsidized ang testing tulad sa ibang bansa,” Colmenares tweeted on Sept. 2, 2021.

He said many local government units have started to offer free testing for their constituents but such test “takes a long time and is only for suspected cases.”

The former lawmaker pushed for free testing especially since many local workers must be tested frequently to ensure their protection in the workplace.

“Many employees need to be tested regularly to safely work and the prohibitive cost is a huge burden for them, kaya hindi na lang nagpapa-test,” he said.

The Philippine Red Cross has already reduced the cost of COVID-19 testing, which Colmenares welcomed. Reports said Red Cross slashed the price of swab test to P2,800 from P3,800. A saliva-based COVID test now costs P1,500 from the previous P2,000.

“We appreciate this effort to reduce prices. Pero sa totoo lang, P1,500 for a test is still beyond the reach of working class Filipinos especially at this time,” Colmenares said.

As of Sept. 6, the country posted another record-high of 22,415 new cases of coronavirus that pushed the total to 2,103,331.  The health department also reported a positivity rate of 28.8 percent of the 73,264 tests based on its latest bulletin.

We appreciate this effort to reduce prices. Pero sa totoo lang, P1,500 for a test is still beyond the reach of working class Filipinos especially at this time. https://t.co/r5Q6ghOoyo

— Neri Colmenares (@ColmenaresPH) September 2, 2021

The prohibitive cost discourages people from getting tested, leading to failure to detect and stop the spread of the virus. Kaya ang panawagan namin noon pa, dapat libre or heavily subsidized ang testing tulad sa ibang bansa.

— Neri Colmenares (@ColmenaresPH) September 2, 2021

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)