DRUG-TESTING CENTERS FOUND EMPLOYING USERS FACE CLOSURE

GOVERNMENT will not hesitate to close drug-testing laboratories in the
country if they are found using fixers and runners in their operations.

The warning was issued after the Department of Health (DOH) and the
Land Transportation Office (LTO) forged an agreement to shut down fake
drug-testing centers.

Lawyer Nick Lutero of the DOH said they are about to issue a circular
wherein drug-testing centers found using fixers and runners would be
sanction.

For the first offense, Lutero said erring drug testing centers will be
suspended and a second offense will result in the cancellation of the
license and permits leading to closure.

There are about 1,000 drug-testing centers nationwide and 72 of them
are government-owned facilities, according to records.

Lutero said last year, 200 hospitals were sanctioned for illegal druh-
testing operations while 30 others were closed for recurrent violations.

Health undersecretary Jade del Mundo and LTO Assistant Secretary
Annelli Lontoc said the purpose of the agreement is to ensure that all
drug-testing centers in the country are not fraudulent.

Del Mundo said the two agencies will monitor drug-testing activities
at the LTO office in Tayuman, Manila and at the East Avenue Medical
Center.

Apart from closing fake drug testing centers, del Mundo said they will
bring down the cost of a drug test in public hospitals from the
prevailing rate of P200 to P180.

For his part, Dr. Benjie Reyes, DOH program manager for dangerous
drugs prevention, said they are also looking at the possibility of
conducting random and on-the-road drug testing for drivers.

Records showed that there are 3.459 million Filipinos who are illegal
drug users at present with shabu as the most abused narcotic.