Akbayan Partylist Rep. Chel Diokno questioned the Department of Health (DOH) over the timing of its inspection of health facilities, following the recent controversy surrounding non-operational Super Health Centers (SHCs).
“Bakit ngayon lang ininspeksiyon pagkatapos lumabas ang isyu ng ghost health facilities? Dapat noon pa ito ginawa bilang due diligence, lalo pa’t bilyun-bilyong piso mula sa pera ng bayan ang ginastos sa mga proyektong ito!” Rep. Diokno said, referring to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa’s recent rounds of inspection of SHCs in various parts of the country.
The lawmaker stressed that proper oversight and accountability should have been implemented from the beginning, particularly given the billions in public funds involved.
Sec. Herbosa recently came under fire as DOH cut its FB live.
While inspecting a Super Health Center (SHC) in Marikina City, Sec. Herbosa was heard seemingly trying to dodge blame when he said, “At least tayo ang nag-expose. It’s better na tayo nag-expose kaysa tayo ma-expose. Bahala na sila magpaliwanag.”
Sec. Herbosa is currently facing multiple corruption cases before the Office of the Ombudsman involving ₱44.6 million worth of mental health drugs.
Earlier, concerned DOH personnel and healthcare governance advocates filed a complaint against Sec. Herbosa over the allegedly questionable and disproportionate allocation of government-procured psychiatric medications to the private civic group Rotary Club of Quezon City.
