CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology Laboratory of Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) becomes the first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing facility in Central Luzon after being given with a License to Operate by Department of Health (DOH).
“As we open the doors to the Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology Laboratory at JBLMGH which will be known as the Pandemic Sub-national Reference Laboratory, I would like to thank our partners who continuously support the DOH specially during this most difficult time. We value our partnership with our stakeholders which helps us strengthen our mechanisms in providing the health needs of our countrymen,” DOH Secretary Francisco Duque said.
“I am also very thankful to the staff of JBLMGH who has come to this new challenge to serve our fellow Filipinos at this most difficult time. It is our aspiration that this will continue to serve as our reference laboratory in the future once this pandemic has come to an end,” he added.
JBLMGH Medical Center Chief Monserrat Chichioco explained that testing will be on a scale-up approach.
“Initially, it will be on an eight-hour operation to run 500 to 1,000 tests a day until the laboratory operates 24 hours, therefore, targeting about 3,000 tests a day. Continuous recruitment of laboratory scientists and medical technologists, and training of newly hired laboratory personnel will be implemented to reach the 24-hour operation,” she disclosed.
For his part, DOH Regional Director Cesar Cassion said Guidelines on Expanded Testing issued by their agency shall still be the basis when receiving samples for testing.
People under the subgroups A (patients or healthcare workers with severe/critical symptoms, and relevant history of travel/contact) and B (patients or healthcare workers with mild symptoms, relevant history of travel/contact, and considered vulnerable) will still be prioritized.
“COVID-19 facilities and DOH-retained hospitals in the region are the priority for referral. Once JBLMGH has scaled-up and operates 24 hours, local government and private hospitals can send their letter of intent and can have their Memorandum of Agreement with JBLMGH,” Cassion furthered.