In a press briefing, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said that the only COVID-19 testing currently allowed is at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) as well as at the testing kits developed by the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH).
RITM was given an exception certificate by the World Health Organization (WHO), while FDA approved on Tuesday the use of test kits developed by UP-NIH scientists. Both are based in Metro Manila.
“So magiging dalawa ang ating testing centers,” Domingo said. “‘Pag nagkaroon na ng ibang testing kit at ‘pag kaya na mag-expand ng UP-NIH, doon na kaya mag expand sa mga sub-national [reference laboratories].”
[Translations: We’ll have two testing centers. Once more testing kits have been produced and if the NIH is already able to expand, then we can also expand to sub-national reference laboratories.]
Apart from the RITM and UP-NIH, WHO is looking into the testing capabilities of five other sub-national reference laboratories, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.
These include the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Mindanao, Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Visayas, Baguio General Hospital in Northern Luzon, and the Lung Center of the Philippines in Metro Manila.
As of March 11, there are at least 49 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease in the country.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Wednesday that tests for the coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, are not yet being carried outside of Metro Manila due to the current lack of certified testing centers.
