MANILA: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has set a maximum rate of P300 for the cost of the medical examination for applications for a driver's license and a student permit in its accredited healthcare facilities.

This is in compliance with the Memorandum Circular signed by LTO chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade in response to complaints about the excessive cost of the medical test, which is one of the primary requirements for acquiring a driver's license.

“Hindi po natin maisasantabi ang maraming reklamo kaugnay ng sobrang mahal ng pagkuha ng medical certificate na ang iba ay nagbabayad ng P500 hanggang P700. Mabigat na ang halaga na ito para sa ating mga ordinaryong mamamayan (We cannot ignore the many complaints related to the high cost of obtaining a medical certificate that others pay P500 to P700. This cost is heavy for ordinary citizens),” Tugade stated.

The maximum prescribed rate for the medical examination will be P300 per transaction. Tugade said that health facilities can also charge less than P300.

The new policy applies to all LTO-accredited medical facilities and clinics where an accredited physician also conducts medical, physical, optical, and other tests for the application of a student driver's permit, a new non-professional driver's license, and a new conductor's license, as well as for the renewal and upgrading of a non-professional license to professional.

Medical clinics and healthcare facilities that violate the new policy may be subject to a P10,000 fine as well as a 90-day suspension of accreditation for the first offense.

For the second offense, there will be a 180-day suspension, a P15,000 fine, and the revocation of accreditation. For the third offense, there will be a permanent disqualification as an accredited medical clinic or healthcare facility.

The directive is based on the recommendation of a committee that was established to conduct studies and a series of consultations in order to determine what a reasonable cost of a medical examination should be.

According to Memorandum Circular 2018-2157, which was signed on November 27, 2018, medical examination fees can be regulated and regularly analyzed to see if they are reasonable or excessive, although there is a specific maximum amount that medical clinics and healthcare facilities must adhere to.

“Accredited medical clinics have several variances of fees and charges causing discrepancy of rates. For standardization, the LTO deemed it proper and necessary to set the specific maximum medical examination fees to be charged from driver-applicants by accredited medical clinics,” the circular stated.

The new Memorandum Circular signed by Tugade will go into effect 15 days after  its national publication.

Photo by Roy Robles and Land Transportation Office

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