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ILOILO – It’s been a year since they applied but up to now the rural heath unit of San Miguel town remains unaccredited by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
This is believed to be one of the factors contributing to the congestion of Aleosan District Hospital in adjacent Alimodian. Medical cases which could have been handled by the rural health unit of San Miguel were referred to the district hospital.
Barangay health workers said most pregnant women preferred giving birth in the district hospital because it’s free unlike in the San Miguel birthing center.
Giving birth in the town’s health center costs P1,000 during the day or P2,000 at night. But once accredited by PhilHealth, there would be no need for this out-of-pocket expense, according to Midwife II Anastasia Gatin.
“I have instructed the concerned personnel already. They have until December to complete the requirements,” said Mayor Marina Luz Gorriceta during a forum about a survey on maternal and child health situation in isolated and disadvantaged areas of Iloilo.
Spearheaded by the Provincial Population Office, the survey funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency was conducted in Leon, Alimodian, Calinog, Bingawan, Balasan, Carles, Estancia and Batad from December 2014-August 2015.
In San Miguel, the survey covered 5,991 households (27,760 individuals). Of the respondents, 71.6 percent of 1,922 women gave birth in public hospitals while 7.7 percent delivered at home; five percent delivered in the municipal birthing center. Others were in private clinic or hospital (10.5 percent) and barangay health station (5.2 percent).
Maternal Neonatal Child Health and Nutrition coordinator Susana Carumba of the Iloilo provincial government’s Hospital Management Office said pregnant women classified as high risk (e.g. first or fifth pregnancy and those with health complications) have to be brought to the nearest hospital, while others may gave birth in the town’s birthing center.
If strictly enforced, Carumba said, this health referral system protocol could help decongest district hospitals.
She also said rural health centers in poor areas now have the capacity to provide prenatal services from the first and third trimester of pregnancy.
She discouraged pregnant women from giving birth at home with unlicensed midwife because it would be risky for both the mother and child.
Meanwhile, San Miguel’s Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Heidi Beduyas thanked the Korea International Cooperation Agency and Provincial Population Officer Ramon Yee for providing them with a Maternal and Child Health Services Profile.
The service profile, containing recent and reliable data on demographics, economics, education and environment, could guide them in planning and implementing programs responsive to the need of the residents, she said.
The Iloilo Provincial Population Office has been tasked to gather data and establish a Benchmark Information of Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition Services in the Interlocal Health Zones of Aleosan District Hospital, Jesus M. Colmenares District Hospital (Balasan) and Calinog District Hospital through Executive Order 198, series 2014. (Capitol PIO/PN)
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