Mayor wants two hospitals as COVID-19 testing centers

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas urged two private hospitals to get accredited as testing center laboratories for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In his regular press conference on Monday afternoon, Treñas said he is “certain” there are persons willing to pay to get tested, especially that businesses will start to open once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted.

Iloilo is waiting for the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the recommendation to extend ECQ in the metropolis until May 15.

Once they start operations, workers from the various parts of Iloilo and other areas in Panay will return to the city.

Treñas said Metro Iloilo Hospital and The Medical City are interested in becoming COVID-19 labs.

“The more testing centers that we have, the better for everyone,” he said.

He added that with only one sub-national laboratory in the region, the turnaround time is too long.

Western Visayas Medical Center, a retained hospital of the Department of Health (DOH), also accepts specimens from Palawan and Romblon, he added.

Another hospital being pushed for accreditation is the West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC), which was assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO), Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and the Department of Health (DOH) for the laboratory accreditation on April 24.

Meanwhile, Dr. May Ann Soliva-Sta. Lucia, head of the Health Promotion of the DOH-Center for Health Development Western Visayas, said that as of date they have no information yet if the two hospitals have coordinated with the central office for accreditation. (PNA)