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Philippines' Duterte promises payment as Red Cross stops COVID-19 tests

Published 10/23/2020, 07:34 PM
Updated 10/23/2020, 07:40 PM

MANILA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte said on Friday his government will pay the 931 million
pesos ($19.25 million) it owes the Red Cross after the
humanitarian agency stopped conducting COVID-19 tests.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which has conducted 1.1
million swab tests and accounts for quarter of the country's
output, on Friday stopped providing testing services until it
gets paid, prompting the country's limited number of
laboratories to fill the gap.
"The president has given his commitment that the government
will pay its obligation to the PRC," Duterte's spokesman, Harry
Roque, said in a statement. The government is calling on the PRC
to resume its testing services, Roque added.
Returning overseas Filipino workers, frontline healthcare
workers and individuals in large swabbing facilities benefit
from free COVID-19 swab tests by the PRC. Testing cost is
charged to Philippine Health Insurance Corp (Philhealth), the
state health insurer.
But PRC said Philhealth had 931 million pesos in overdue
obligations as of Oct. 13, hampering its ability to replenish
test kits and pay for laboratory workers.
Returning Filipino workers need to test negative from
COVID-19 before being allowed to leave quarantine hotels. The
presidential office asked for patience and understanding of
stranded overseas Filipino workers as it resolves the issue.
PRC said it would still conduct swab tests for paying
clients.
With 365,799 confirmed infections and 6,915 deaths, the
Philippines has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases and
fatalities in Southeast Asia behind Indonesia.

($1 = 48.36 Philippine pesos)

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