Licenses of drug test centers extended

The Department of Health (DOH) has extended the licenses of drug-testing centers accredited by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to enable them to comply with the new standards formulated by the department.

Dr. Mercedes Palma, medical officer of the DOH’s Bureau of Health Facilities and Services — Licensing Division, said yesterday that the licenses of such drug-screening facilities will remain valid only until Aug. 31.

"The drug-testing centers have enough time to upgrade their facilities and expertise. After this period, we will issue a cease and desist order to those that will fail to meet the new standards for accreditation," she noted.

The DOH took over the supervision of the drug-testing centers from the LTO and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) by virtue of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 or the Republic Act 9165.

The DOH had instituted changes on the licensing requirements to ensure the capability of drug-screeing centers. The agency particularly wanted the centers to be headed by physicians who have knowledge of laboratory management and the staff to take proficiency examinations.

Prior to the passage of the law, the LTO was in charge of the accreditation of such laboratories while the DDB was issuing the license to operate.

There are 1,053 centers accredited by the LTO and they cater mostly to motorists who are being required to undergo and pass drug examination before acquiring their drivers license.

Palma added that the DOH had already started processing the applications of drug-testing centers.

So far, the DOH had already issued licenses to around 100 new laboratories.

She said the DOH wants to accredited as many laboratories as it can in the wake of possibility that the coverage of the drug-testing requirement might be expanded in the future.

"We did not set a limit to fully support the need for drug testing. We just want to make it sure that we issue license only to the qualified laboratories," Palma added. – Sheila Crisostomo