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PH to increase WHO solidarity trial participants to 4K MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines will increase the number of participants in the World Health Organization (WHO) solidarity trial on potential coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines, which will start locally in December, a health official said Wednesday. “Yes, we are in that direction that we will be increasing the number of participants to 4,000. We are just making final arrangements with WHO,” Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a mix of Filipino and English during a virtual media forum. Earlier, WHO Philippines Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe said they are hoping that the Philippines would increase its participants from between 2,000 and 3,000 to 4,000. Trial volunteers must be 18 to 60 years and without
comorbidities. morbidities. Pregnant women would not be considered. As for US Pfizer and Moderna, Vergeire reported the talks are still ongoing. “We're still trying to negotiate and we're still trying to have a discussion with them. So there is still no certainty, we still do not have confirmed details regarding this matter,” she said in a mix of Filipino and English. (MNS)
Order for price cap on COVID-19 tests awaiting Duterte’s signature — Palace
ABEYANSINGHE
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang on Thursday expressed optimism that President Rodrigo Duterte will impose a price cap on COVID-19 tests as proposed by the Health and Tourism departments. At a news conference in Bohol, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the proposed executive order on price cap is just awaiting the signature of the President following a review made by the Office of the Executive Secretary and the Department of Health (DOH). “From all indications, mukha naman pong magkakaroon ng price cap,” Roque said. “Eh kasi po ‘yung iba naman napakataas naman ng sinisingil eh alam natin na pupuwedeng mas mura ‘yang testing na ‘yan.” Roque said making COVID-19 testing more affordable could bode well for the government’s test, trace, and treat campaign. The DOH said last month that it had submitted a recommendation to the Office of the President to implement a price cap as it noted the differences in the testing cost across laboratories in the country. Medical experts considered the RT-PCR test the gold standard for confirmatory testing because it detects the virus that causes COVID-19. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, meanwhile, said on Tuesday that the price cap should cover both RT-PCR and antigen tests “to make traveling an affordable option for all” after the government eased movement restrictions. Puyat also appealed to accredited test centers to provide budget-friendly but credible COVID-19 diagnostic tests. (MNS)
