PhilHealth move to lower testing price praised

SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has welcomed the decision of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to lower the price of its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) test package by 50 percent.

He earlier questioned the overpriced package amounting to P8,150 per test as he feared of potential loss from taxpayers’ money of around P8.3 billion.

Following public uproar over the “overpriced” package, Drilon said PhilHealth scaled down the price of its Covid-19 test package from P8,150 to P4,210.

He insisted that the health insurance agency should peg the price instead at P3,500, the amount it pays to the Philippine Red Cross for testing.

“If Covid-19 tests could be done for as low as P3,500, as proven by Red Cross, which emerged as the lead testing center for Covid-19, then there is no justification for higher rates set by PhilHealth,” Drilon said in a statement on Friday.

He also revealed that the complete cost structure of the package showed questionable expenses, which, if removed, could bring down the cost by more than half.

“Why would PhilHealth have different prices for the same test? I am glad that PhilHealth listened to us,” he said.

He noted that the test kit could be purchased for as low as $15 or P750.00.

“Philhealth should look at lowering it to P3500, or perhaps even lower. I have heard that some institutions can do it at as low as P2000,” he said.

Drilon noted that the development means that more people can be tested for free.

“This is a victory for better governance… Our triumph has proven that our collective voice is stronger than ever. It is critical to be more vigilant against corrupt practices during the time of a pandemic,” he said.