Red Cross stops free Covid-19 tests for Filipino expats over govt insurer's debt

Dubai - Airport authorities in Manila assured that tests will still be conducted for OFWs.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has stopped providing free Covid-19 tests for Filipino expats arriving in Manila because of the government health insurer's nearly Php1-billion (Dh75.5 million) debt.

Since Thursday, October 15, the humanitarian organisation no longer accepted swabs from returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as well as medical frontliners and others covered by the expanded screening of the Philippines' Department of Health (DoH).

In a statement sent to local media, the Manila International Airport Authority assured that tests will continue to be conducted for OFWs. The Philippine Coast Guard will still be collecting swabs when returning Filipinos arrive at the airport, it said.

The DoH had also tapped eight hospitals for the testing requirement, as it tries to resolve issues with the PRC, according to another statement.

These hospitals include: Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital; Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center; Lung Center of the Philippines; PNP Crime Laboratory; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; San Lazaro Hospital; Ospital ng Imus; and Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital.

PhilHealth's debt

Under the PRC's agreement with the state-run PhilHealth, priority Covid-19 tests requested by government agencies were supposed to be reimbursed. By October 13, PhilHealth's total bill  crossed Php1 billion, of which about Php931 million was left unpaid.

"This is a difficult decision to a humanitarian organisation such as the PRC to make but it has to be made. The PRC does not have unlimited resources to replenish the testing kits for its laboratories unless PhilHealth, its major creditor, settles its lawful obligations to PRC," the organisation said in a statement.

The Philippine government shoulders mandatory tests and quarantine for OFWs.