SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go warned that poor patients in far-flung areas would be deprived of accessible medical services if health infrastructure projects are reduced to “white elephants.”
Go, then vice chairperson of the Senate committee on health, sounded the alarm following concerns that some Super Health Centers (SHC) have been constructed but reportedly lack basic utilities such as electricity and water.
During the committee hearing on Monday, May 11, Go stressed that health facilities must be completed, equipped, staffed, and made operational so that public funds spent for healthcare infrastructure will be felt by Filipinos, especially in remote and underserved communities.
“It is alarming and saddening to know that there are reports of delayed implementation, incomplete infrastructure, lack of equipment, and even unused health facilities,” Go said.
A Department of Health initiative, SHCs are designed to bring primary care closer to the people and help decongest hospitals. Such a program suits an archipelagic country where many Filipinos still need to travel across rivers, mountains, and seas to reach medical facilities.
Go emphasized that the construction of a health facility alone is meaningless if people cannot actually use it. For Go, the purpose of government spending is clear: every project must lead to accessible and functional health services.
“Ako po mismo’y saksi niyan dahil ako po’y umiikot sa buong Pilipinas. Minsan kailangan pang tumawid ng ilog o bundok para lang makapunta sa pinakamalapit na health center o ospital. ‘Yung iba nga nanganganak sa bangka o sa tricycle sa sobrang layo,” Go said.
During the public hearing, the DOH said that of the 820 SHCs already funded, only 224 are fully-operational while 238 are partially completed. The DOH described the latter as “problematic” as some SHC projects were found to be “poste (columns) pa lang.”
The senator said this is precisely the kind of problem that implementing agencies must prevent. He said the DOH and local government units (LGUs) must complement each other to ensure that facilities do not remain idle after construction.
According to Go, the national government and LGUs already enter into agreements before health projects begin. However, he stressed that if an LGU lacks the capacity to sustain or operate a facility, the national government has the responsibility to help.
“Mayroon pong kasunduan ang DOH at LGU bago umpisahan ang mga proyektong ito. Pero kung hindi kaya ng LGU, trabaho ng national government na tulungan ang mga LGUs at iyan rin po ang layunin ng mga Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) projects na ito na maisakatuparan ang mga proyekto. Hindi pwedeng pabayaan na lang po ito,” Go said.
He urged the DOH to prioritize a “catch-up plan” on the implementation of the SHC program. He added that the same must be applied to hospitals supported by laws passed in Congress, especially those receiving annual support through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
A known health reforms crusader, Go filed Senate Resolution No. 384 which seeks to assess the status of healthcare facilities nationwide, identify implementation gaps, and ensure that public funds for health infrastructure translate into accessible, functional, and quality healthcare services for every Filipino.
“Pera po ng taumbayan ang pinag-uusapan natin dito. Ibalik natin ito sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng maayos na serbisyong medikal,” Go urged.
