BECAUSE it violated safety protocols, the Marikina Covid-19 Testing Center—on which many had pinned hopes for a faster way to test people and curb infections—has been disapproved by the Department of Health (DOH).
In a letter received by the local government of Marikina dated March 24, the DOH recommended that the proposed Covid-19 testing facility be located in a separate location/facility outside the City Health Office so that cross-infection is minimized and less foot traffic will be observed for the protection of staff and Marikina residents.
Saddened by the agency’s decision, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro assailed the DOH, saying the disapproval is a denial of the Filipino people’s right to access an important test. He said those in the marginalized sectors were especially impacted by such denial.
“They only have one observation and recommendation: move the location,” Teodoro said, as he expressed confusion why there is a need to look for another area noting that the entire sixth floor of the City Health Office building will have an exclusive elevator for the testing center.
He, however, said the city government will comply.
Alternate site
However, in a virtual press conference, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Marikina can use the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC).
“The Marikina laboratory did not pass the standards on space and biosafety for the facility is located on the sixth floor,” Duque said.
Duque added, “That is why we proposed to them to use the laboratory in Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center or set up a laboratory in another location.”
Such facility, he added, can be “modular or [just a] prefab infrastructure. They will be assisted by RITM [Research Institute for Tropical Medicine] in the process of setting up a facility following guidelines for biosafety.”
Teodoro refuted this, saying the DOH had also disapproved the ARMMC, which is the DOH-retained Level 3 hospital as an alternative testing facility, which is microbiological service of the hospital, after the Marikina team also assessed such facility for its feasibility for the proposed project.
The RITM, which is the only approved testing facility for Covid-19 in the country, also houses its administrative offices as well as its medical facilities, thus making it a co-shared facility.
The mayor also urged the DOH, given the condition of the health crisis in the country, to set different protocols for the establishment of Covid-19 centers.
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila