The Center for Health-MIMAROPA announced that they are currently looking at the possibility of having a COVID-19 laboratory facility in the region.
Health Education and Promotion Officer II Geraldine Perez told Palawan Daily News (PDN) yesterday that the Provincial Government of Palawan and the Department of Health (DOH)-CHD MIMAROPA are working hand in hand for this matter.
Perez said that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and DOH will be having an accreditation review on the capacities of the facilities once identified.
“Yan po ay dadaan pa po sa mahabang proseso. May five stages po kasi ang accreditation. At ‘yun pong na-identify natin ay ia-assess pa po ng RITM at DOH kung may capacity po,” she said.
The said five stages on testing center accreditation are self-assessment, validation, personal training, proficiency testing and full scale implementation.
During the online press briefing on March 30, Palawan Medical Society President, Dr. Fe Joan Demegillo, said that they fully support the measure of the Provincial Government (PGP) and the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
“Sa amin, ay pinu-push namin ang machine, kits at saka personnel to handle the IPPCR. Aanhin mo ang kit kung walang machine? Aanhin mo naman ang machine and kits kung walang magma-manage ng machine?” she said.
“Ang hinihintay kasi natin is the RITM to approve the facility. ‘Yan ‘yung isang inasikaso ngayon ng PHO,” Dr. Demegillo added.