Manila: Health Secretary Ted Herbosa has briefed the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on the Department of Health's (DOH) ongoing investigation into non-functional Super Health Centers (SHCs) across the country. Herbosa shared initial data regarding 878 SHCs funded by the Health Facility Enhancement Program from 2021 onwards.

According to Philippines News Agency, Herbosa revealed that 365 of these centers are in various stages of construction, 196 are operational, 17 are partially operational, and 300 remain non-operational. These figures are to be further validated and investigated in collaboration with the ICI.

The DOH has outlined the subsequent steps it will take with the ICI to ensure transparency and accountability in the program's implementation. This includes building cases for the non-operational SHCs, which have increased from 297 to 300 facilities. The ICI will support the continuation of these investigations spearheaded by the DOH.

The DOH is also set to activate the Citizens Participatory Audit, allowing the public to report issues concerning the SHCs. Since the probe was announced, the department has received numerous reports about facilities that remain idle or unfinished.

Earlier, Herbosa inspected the Concepcion Dos SHC in Marikina and the Antipolo SHC. DOH data revealed that the Concepcion Dos SHC, initially funded with PHP21.5 million, remains incomplete. The local government redesigned the project, increasing its cost to PHP201 million. Meanwhile, the Antipolo City Government received PHP11.4 million in funding for the Antipolo SHC, with both phases completed between October 2023 and July 2024. The DOH also provided PHP7 million in medical equipment in 2022 and 2023 to support the facility's operations.

Herbosa emphasized the DOH's commitment to making all government-funded health facilities fully functional.