Valenzuela shuts down clinic over unlicensed Covid-19 testing

MANILA – The Valenzuela city government has ordered the closure and permit suspension of a clinic and diagnostic center that was found administering reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) without proper licenses.

In a statement Friday night, the city government said it has been receiving reports that the Bestcare Medical Clinic and Diagnostic Laboratory is allegedly “releasing falsified swab test results.”

It added that the laboratory is offering a Covid-19 test to its customers without authorization and accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH).

In its letter dated Jan. 27, the city’s Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) issued a “notice to explain” to the laboratory.

“As the matter is still under investigation, the City Government of Valenzuela deems it is right to suspend the business permit of Bestcare in the protection of consumer rights and public welfare as the clinic has been offering Covid-19 RT-PCR tests under its name without a license as a Covid-19 testing facility which is tantamount to misrepresentation,” it said in the letter.

The private laboratory responded to the letter on Jan. 29, but it did not specify in its written explanation as to why its two branches operating in Barangay Karuhatan are administering Covid-19 without accreditation.

Mayor Rex Gatchalian immediately issued executive orders no. 015 and 016 series of 2021, to suspend the business operations of the two branches operated by Bestcare clinic and laboratory.

Gatchalian said the city government will also file criminal cases against the management of the laboratory.

“We will also file criminal cases vs the people behind this establishment for violating the city’s health protocols,” he said.

The Bestcare laboratory was not in the DOH’s official list granted with a license to operate Covid-19 tests.

The city government said the laboratory management violated the provisions of the city mayor’s permit and waiver/undertaking.

It also violated the provisions of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concerns Act for failure to report Covid-19 test results as well as the consumer’s rights and provisions of the Local Government Code on General Welfare.

The city government, meanwhile, reminded the public to be vigilant and cautious of laboratories offering suspicious Covid-19 tests and services.

The public may report possible violations at the City’s Business Permits and Licensing Office through hotline number 8352-1000.