Philippine Red Cross will not accept swab tests using PhilHealth

Starting August 18, 2020, the Philippine Red Cross will not accept swab tests using PhilHealth because it is said that PhilHealth already owes a lot to the Red Cross.

The Philippine Red Cross has a big role to play in filling the huge shortage of RTPCR testing in the country with almost 40 thousand tests in total every day. The Red Cross refines 10 thousand tests per day, Navotas City in Metro Manila is one that relies on this Red Cross service for the cost of these tests like other local governments PhilHealth answers. 

Mayor Toby Tianco said it is too expensive for the Local Government Unit (LGU) to cover the cost, the problem has accumulated that PhilHealth has to pay to the Red Cross, today Senator Richard Gordon, former Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, said 800,000,000.00 Pesos PhilHealth owes them. 

PhilHealth has already paid 500,000,000.00, said Dr. Shirley Domingo, But new charges need to be processed first, senator Richard Gordon gives PhilHealth until August 18, 2020 to pay if they can't pay, they will not accept the RTPCR tests that PhilHealth will pay. 

According to Dr. Shirley Domingo "The bill that they were saying was received only last Friday and Saturday. Of course there is time to process, it will not be paid immediately".

According to Senator Richard Gordon  "basta may test result at may CIF bayad kaagad yon, its not complicated ey, may test result may line list, but request will continue to test or nagbabayad direkta and we will also provide ang tawag namin dyan good samaritan, yong mga hindi makabayad ililibre namin, mayron akong mga donor na nagbigay  18 milyon ako doon thats only 5 thousand test, pag natapus yon wala na".

English Translation:

According to Senator Richard Gordon "as long as there is a test result and there is a CIF payment immediately, its not complicated, there is a test result with a line list, but request will continue to test or pay directly and we will also provide what we call there good samaritan, those who can not pay we will release, I have donors who gave me 18 million there thats only 5 thousand test, after that it is gone".

That is a big blow, the test is important to know who has COVID-19 especially those who have no symptoms and without testing they can not be traced, can not isolate and even infect the community

Other News:

Two (2) days after the implementation of the mandatory or forced wearing of face shields, there are still those who do not wear or they do not wear it properly, the mayors of Metro Manila will also clarify the policy on wearing face shields. 

In addition to the face mask, employees are also obliged to wear a face shield when in their respective works as part of the measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, because those who wear face masks are correct and if you wear a face shield and do physical distancing of 1 meter, you are 99% protected against COVID-19.

But two days since the start of this new government policy, many still do not follow, suddenly there was a stampede in various places, in shops, in restaurants, in boats and in various establishments, they were attacked without wearing a face shield.

But there are also many who wear a face shield, so there are others who wear it incorrectly, when wearing a face shield, the whole face needs to be covered, there are others who have a face shield that they do not wear.