(UN photo) MANILA - The Department of Health (DOH) is looking into the possible need to procure reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test kits for the monitoring and surveillance of monkeypox cases. In a Viber message to reporters, the department said it is coordinating and discussing with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the Philippine Genome Center the laboratory requirements needed for the surveillance of monkeypox. There are reports that test kit manufacturers in China have developed nucleic acid test kits for monkeypox. If approved by the Chinese government, the kits will be mass-produced and sold. "On the matter of procurement of any specific brands of RT-PCR tests for monkeypox, DOH will rely on scientific evidence to guide its decisions for procurement. We will provide updates once substantive developments have occurred," the DOH text message read. As for the monkeypox vaccination, the department said it is not yet included in the N