With another surge in COVID-19 cases taking place in the Philippines, it becomes daunting to go out even if you need medical advice or a COVID-19 test. 

The Department of Health (DOH) has been reporting more than 5,000 new COVID-19 cases daily since March 18. It doesn’t help knowing more than 130,000 Filipinos are currently sick as of Wednesday, March 31.

As of March 24, the DOH said all cities in the virus epicenter that was Metro Manila were at “high to critical risk.” Hospitals are reaching full capacity especially in the capital region.

Fortunately, it’s possible to consult a doctor or get tested from the safety of your home. Here’s a list of teleconsult lines and home service COVID-19 testing:

Teleconsultation

Makati Medical Center

How much?

P750 for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 concerns

How to avail?

Register for a Zoom account. Then call the MMC HealthHub at 8888-8999 local 2189 or 2832, or email them at mmchealthhub@makatimed.net.ph

You can pay through PayMaya, GCash, Alipay, or online banking.

After payment, MMC HealthHub will contact you on your appointment schedule.

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St Luke’s Medical Center Global City

How much?

P800 for COVID-19 concerns only

How to avail?

Call 0919-065-3019 or email covidtelemedgc@stlukes.com.ph to schedule a consultation.

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zennya Health

How much?

P500 for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 concerns

How to avail?

All zennya Health services can be booked through their app, available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Zennya covers other services like blood tests and vaccinations.

“The app booking experience operates much like Grab or Uber, but with an important distinction of allowing for group bookings that include family members, as well as affiliated workers (maids and drivers) all through a single app, with separated digital health records for each of the patients,” zennya product marketing manager Paolo Lim told Rappler over email.

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KonsultaMD

KonsultaMD is a teleconsultation platform that goes beyond COVID-19 concerns. Plans include unlimited voice consultations, e-prescriptions, and e-lab requests, among others. The service is 24/7 with no appointment needed.

How much?

• Free for the first consultation
• 1-person plan: P499/year
• 2-person plan: P799/year
• 5-person plan: P999/year

How to avail?

Enter your mobile number to create an account on KonsultaMD’s website. Then, choose a plan. Call 7798-8000 or download the app, and then consult with a doctor.

Modes of payment include credit card, GCash, and Globe and TM prepaid and postpaid.

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The Medical City

In The Medical City’s COVID Home Care Program, patients suspected or positive for COVID-19 can be cared for and supervised by physicians from home. There are 3 programs, depending on the patient’s situation:

The programs include an orientation on hygiene and isolation at home, daily video call monitoring with attending physicians, and a series of blood procedures called the COVID Laboratory Panel.

Only Program C has an included home swabbing service. Senior citizen and person with disability (PWD) discounts are not applicable unless there are add-on services, according to program head Joyce Angeles.

How much?

• Program A: P13,000
• Program B: P65,000
• Program C: P33,900

How to avail?

You can book or inquire by calling 8988-7000 local 6413 or visiting themedicalcity.com/covidhomecare.

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Home-service COVID-19 testing

Hi-Precision Diagnostics (RT-PCR)

How much?

• Regular: P4,700 (results out in 2 or 3 days), P5,000 (2 days)
• Senior citizen/PWD: P4,500 (2 or 3 days), P4,800 (2 days)

How to avail?

Testing is strictly by appointment only.

Those interested to avail themselves of home testing can book an appointment by emailing dmhs.swabsched@hi-precision.com.ph or calling 0917-628-5669.

Hi-Precision has branches in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, but says their home testing services are limited to Metro Manila for now.

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Healthway (RT-PCR)

How much?

• P4,500 (20% discount for senior citizens/PWD) – results out within 3 working days
• Additional P1,500 home service fee

How to avail?

Healthway’s home service is for a minimum of 3 people.

Call 0967-507-5194 or email homeservice@healthway.com.ph to book an appointment. This service is available for residents in the Greater Manila Area or Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite.

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Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory

How much?

• RT-PCR: P4,000 (results out in 2 days), P5,000 (1 day)
• Antigen: P1,500 (30 minutes to 1 hour)
• Additional home service fee: P800 per person

How to avail?

The Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory’s home services require a minimum of 3 test takers. It covers Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

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zennya Health

How much?

• RT-PCR: P4,500 (results within 2 days)
• Antigen: P2,000 (15 minutes)
• Antibody point-of-care: P2,000 (15 minutes)

How to avail?

Like its teleconsultation service, zennya’s home testing service can be booked through its app.

Zennya says its home testing services are limited to Metro Manila residents for now, but the company plans to expand these to metropolitan areas in the Visayas and Mindanao “very soon.”

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LabMobile PH

How much?

• RT-PCR: P3,300 to P3,600 (results out in 2 days), P4,300 to P4,600 (1 day)
• Antigen swab and antigen saliva tests: P1,700 to P2,300
• Additional home service fee: P500 for up to 4 persons, free for 5 persons and more

How to avail?

LabMobile PH’s home service is for a minimum of two persons per location outside of Makati. For RT-PCR tests, appointments should be made before 1 pm so the specimen can be delivered to the laboratory before cut-off time. Home service is for locations in Metro Manila.

Call or message LabMobile PH for home or office appointments through the following numbers: 0915-364-7928 / 0927-210-0708 (Globe) or 0947-159-8644 / 0947-157-7222 (Smart).

Submit a photocopy of your ID before getting your test.

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OneSwab

How much?

• Rush for RT-PCR tests
  • Additional P1,000 (results out in 24 hours)
  • Additional P1,500 (12 hours)

How to avail?

You can book a home service test at calendly.com/oneswab at least 12 hours before you need the service to avoid paying an additional last-minute booking fee of P1,000. You can also course inquiries through their Instagram page.

Their coverage areas include Metro Manila, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac. Regular turnaround time for RT-PCR tests is 36 to 48 hours.

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Park and Swab

How much?

• Home service (RT-PCR)
  • P5,000 to P7,000 (results out in 2 or 3 days)
  • P7,000 to P8,000 (24 hours)
• Home service (Antigen)
  • P3,000 (within 2 hours)
• Drive-thru (RT-PCR)
  • P4,500 for walk-ins, P4,000 for scheduled appointments (2 or 3 days)
  • P5,500 for walk-ins, P5,000 for scheduled appointments (24 hours)

How to avail?

Those who want to avail themselves of home service can call or text 0917-317-7922 or email parkandswab@gmail.com. Park and Swab can also be reached through their Facebook and Instagram. Due to the enhanced community quarantine, their home services are limited to Metro Manila for now.

Their drive-through testing site is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at 225 Katipunan Avenue, Project 4, Quezon City. For scheduling, you can book via this link. 

Other private testing services

There are other private home swabbing services that can be found on social media. However, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded the public on Wednesday, March 31, to make sure that these private entities are overseen by a licensed laboratory. 

This is so you’re sure they’re upholding infection control standards. They must also be using accredited test kits.

When contacting private home swabbing services online, ask them what their testing laboratory is and cross-check if it is included in the Department of Health’s list of accredited testing centers. You can also use this list to check if testing centers closer to you offer home services.

Meanwhile, be wary of online services offering fake negative COVID-19 test results without you undergoing any swab procedure. – Rappler.com

Rappler sourced some of the information in this article from crowdsourcing efforts of breast cancer empowerment foundation ICanServe, led by journalist Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala.