The Department of Health has decided to revoke the license of a medical clinic and diagnostic center which was earlier shutdown by the Valenzuela City government after it was found ‘tampering of Covid-19 records or intentionally providing misinformation.”
The DoH, in a separate decision through its Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau , also ordered the Puerto Galera Molecular Laboratory in Oriental Mindoro, whose operator/manager is Dr. Jovith Royales, the chief executive officer of Best Care Medical Clinic & Diagnostic Center Inc. in Barangay Karuhatan, Valenzuela, to replace its management and personnel that were connected with the latter or it would be compelled to similarly revoke its license to operate.
In its recent decision, the DOH-National Capital Region Office (DOH-NCRO) found the complaint of Dr. Alma Radovan-Onia, Marilao Medical and Diagnostic Clinic Inc., medical director, with merit against Best Care and Royales whom it found to ‘have tampered with Covid-19 records or intentionally provided misinformation.’
In her complaint, Radovan-Onia alleged that Royales and his personnel had been releasing Covid-19 results to his clients, misrepresenting that those tests were conducted at MMDCI.
A check with the agency’s Covid Surveillance and Quick Action Unit, the HFSRB found out that the Best Care was not an accredited Covid-19 testing laboratory as only a licensed laboratory could report results via Covid-19 Document Respiratory System which it (Best Care) did not.
“Dr. Jovith Royales, manager and CEO of Best Care Medical Clinic & Diagnostic Center Inc. and its key personnel are found in violation of the provision of the implementing rules and regulations of R.A 11332 otherwise known as the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Events of Public Health Concerns Act for failure to report such Covid-19 test results to the CDRS,” DOH-NCRO Director IV Gloria Balboa said.
The alleged RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) results were released under their corporate name (Best Care) although they have no license as a Covid-19 laboratory which constitute violation of its provision or specifically tampering of records or intentionally providing misinformation, she explained.
The success in the battle against Covid-19 lies in the accuracy and proper reporting hence the action of Royales defeats the objectives of R.A 11332 and its implementing rules and regulations, the DOH said.
“The failure to report and the issuance of false or fraudulent result weakens the system established by the DOH and the government cannot provide adequate support to those who actually needed it,” it pointed out.
Earlier, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian indefinitely suspended the business permit of Royales’ Best Care over reports that it was offering Covid-19 tests despite having no license as an accredited Covid-19 testing facility.
“The city government deemed it right to suspend its business permit in 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,” Gatchalian said.
A case of falsification of documents was filed by Radovan-Onia against Royales before the Valenzuela Prosecutor’s Office.