In an election promise, federal Labor pledges $3.8 million to ensure a Canberra health co-op, which had nearly 5,000 patients on the books, can reopen.

The Interchange Health Co-operative (IHCO), which had 5,000 patients on the books, was closed earlier this month and entered voluntary administration.

A private operator will take over its running and today it was announced the federal Labor government would commit $3.8 million to the clinic, if re-elected.

The administrator said the clinic would reopen shortly and that the return of services was “temporary”.