A $10 dengue kit in the US costs $100 here, according to Dr. Raul V. Desturawho heads a start-up company called Manila Health Tek.Destura led a team of scientists in developing Biotek-M (inset), a rapid dengue test kit that is more affordable to Filipinos. Desturasaid that technology adoption cut the “toll fees” that make dengue testing expensive in the country. Biotek-M was developed through funding from Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development and its commercialization is supported by DOST’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute.
