BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The health department’s regional office will prioritize the swab samples lined up for testing at the regional laboratory facility at the West Visayas Medical Center after lone district solon Greg Gasataya appealed to Department of Health Regional Director Marlyn Convocar to prioritize the more than 600 samples sent from here.
“We have the highest backlog so far in the region,” Gasataya told DNX as he confirmed that he and Convocar had a conference by phone during which he appealed to the DOH regional chief to fast-track the testing of the samples sent from this city.
There have been growing concerns from various sectors here after it was noted that some persons, including repatriated overseas workers are being held in facilities beyond the 14-day period.
Gasataya said the RT-PCR test results are usually released after a minimum of five days but there have been factors that caused a delay in the release, Gasataya quoted Convocar as having told him.
ALBEE OKAYS TESTING AT SILAY FACILITY
Meanwhile, Gasataya said Capitol consultant and former solon Alfredo Abelardo Benitez had worked out an arrangement with officials of the Teresita Jalandoni Memorial Provincial Hospital in the neighboring city of Silay to allow swab samples to be tested at the bio-molecular laboratory of the facility.
Gasataya said this will cut down waiting time and the anxiety of those who are either probables or suspects for the virus.
Physician Grace Tan, spokesperson of the local inter-agency task force, on the other hand, said they have yet to be officially informed by “higher-ups” about this arrangement.
