Women lawmakers buck ‘no home birthing policy’

MANILA, Philippines - Women lawmakers strongly opposed yesterday the “no home birthing policy” of the Department of Health (DOH), which claimed the move was meant to curb the soaring number of maternal and infant deaths in the country.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan said the group is very much against this policy.

“How can poor women afford hospital fees especially now that most services are privatized? They are not PhilHealth members and even if they are, most expenses are still out of pocket,” Ilagan said, referring to the government health insurance system.

She said travel is long and hazardous for pregnant women living in rural areas.

“What happened to the midwives who had been trained to assist in home birthing? Instead of discouraging home births, why should not the government strengthen clinics and lying-in centers?” Ilagan said.

She said hospitals are tertiary health providers, and emphasized the need to strengthen primary providers.

Meanwhile, Una Ang Pamilya party-list Rep. Reena Concepcion Obillo said it is best to give birth where facilities are adequately provided for due to potential risks during childbirth.

“However, in reality, there are rural areas where birthing facilities are inadequate, or none at all. So, the best is for the government to provide for birthing facilities and to beef up medical practitioners to address maternity issues,” Obillo said.

Compostela Valley Rep. Ma. Carmen Zamora said while the policy is ideal, it may not be so easy to implement right away if the government will consider the situation in rural and depressed areas.

“What we are looking forward to is the maternal health and education component of the implementation and roll-out of the Responsible Health (RH) Law,” Zamora said.