The Department of Health (DOH) – CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) and the RAKKK Prophet Medical Center, Incorporated has formally inaugurated the hospital’s molecular laboratory for COVID-19 testing, the second private health facility in the province to provide diagnostic test service located at Km. 194 Maharlika Highway, Barangay Rosario, Gumaca, Quezon.
“Malaki ang maitutulong ng additional molecular laboratory na ito upang mapabilis ang proseso ng swab testing sa mga pasyente at mas marami at mas madali nating malalaman ang positibo o hinde at kung sino ang dapat ilagay sa isolation facility,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated.
The RAKKK was granted accreditation by the DOH for the establishment of its molecular laboratory last August 2020.
There is now a total of 12 accredited laboratory centers in the region namely De La Salle University Medical Center and Ospital ng Imus in the province of Cavite; Qualimed Health Network, LPH – San Pablo City District Hospital, San Pablo Colleges Medical Center, Calamba Medical Center and UPLB Covid-19 Molecular Laboratory in the province of Laguna; Batangas Medical Center, Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center, Mary Mediatrix Medical Center, Philippine Red Cross – Batangas Chapter in the province of Batangas; and Lucena United Doctors Hospital and Medical Center and RAKKK Prophet Medical Center in the province of Quezon.
Director Janairo in his message acknowledged the participation of the private sector in the fight against COVID-19. “Kailangan nating magsama-sama at magkaroon ng iisang layunin sa pagsugpo sa problemang kinakaharap natin ngayon.”
He added that the regional office will continue to support and extend assistance to private health facilities applying for accreditation to boosts the regions testing capability.
At present there are 21 laboratories which applied for accreditation, either for the conventional Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Testing or GeneXpert Testing. Of these, 13 are already licensed laboratory testing centers.