DOH flags 300 non-operational health centers

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Health Department has identified 300 non-operational “superhealth centers” – facilities that were supposed to provide primary care services - that were deemed completed but non-functional.

In a press briefing on Friday, Oct. 17, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said over 170 non-functioning facilities were found in Luzon - a disclosure he made after appearing before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

“Ang nakikita naming obstacles to operations, kung minsan walang power, walang water. Doon kasi sa arrangement namin it’s the LGU (local government unit) that will make sure it’s connected to electricals, that is connected to water lines, and who will also hire the personnel, ‘yung doctor, ‘yung nurse, ‘yung midwife, ‘yung pharmacist na magpapatakbo ng health center. It’s really the LGU. Kami grant lang to build the infrastructure,” Herbosa said.

[Translation: The obstacles we see to operations are that sometimes there's no power or no water. In our arrangement, it's the LGU (local government unit) that is responsible for ensuring connection to electricity and water lines, and also for hiring the personnel — the doctor, nurse, midwife, and pharmacist who will run the health center. It's really the LGU's responsibility. We only give approval to build the infrastructure.]

On Oct. 15, the DOH flagged what it called a non-operational center in Marikina.

The city government said it finished the first phase of the project – or the structural foundation. It noted that the DOH did not release more funding for the next phase of the project.

Herbosa addressed his previous remarks in a now-deleted video, where he said it was better for his agency to flag irregularities instead of it as the subject of an expose.

“The problem in government is that I get all the blame. If the health system is poor, even if it is devolved, who do you blame the Secretary of Health?” he said.

“After 1991 mukhang hindi ko lahat karga yan kasi lahat my local health system na,” he added, referring to the Local Government Code of 1991 that decentralized health services to the LGUs.

Herbosa said he has instructed his regional directors to inspect the 300 non-functioning facilities.

In a separate briefing, ICI executive director Brian Hosaka said the commission is ready to assist DOH through technical validation, but DOH insisted on finishing its own probe.

“Once we are fully capacitated, we will look into this. Sa ngayon kasi wala pa silang nakukumpletong imbestigasyon di pa nga nila nafa-file yung reports sa amin,” he said, adding that the ICI will still focus on the 421 non-existent flood control projects.

[Translation: Once we are fully capacitated, we will look into this. For now, they haven’t even completed their investigation, and they haven’t even filed their reports with us.]