Philhealth coverage for expectant mothers and newborn children pushed

MANILA—A lawmaker filed a measure granting automatic PhilHealth coverage for all women about to give birth and their newborn children to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health.

Rep. Alfredo D. Vargas III (5th District, Quezon City) said House Bill 6373 seeks to provide automatic health insurance coverage to all women about to give birth who are not yet enrolled under any existing categories of the PhilHealth and their newborn children.

“As part of the country’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Philippines aims to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health,” Vargas said.

Vargas cited the 5th Philippine Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Philippines has a high probability of achieving the target of reducing the mortality rate of children.

He said in 2011, the Philippines recorded a child mortality rate of 30 out of 1,000 live births, which is not far from the 2015 target of 26.7. Infant mortality rate also decreased from 57 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 22 per 1,000 live births in 2011. The 2015 target is 19, he added.

“However, it is feared that the Philippines will not meet its MDG target on maternal health as the maternal mortality ratio increased from 209 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 221 deaths in 2011, a far cry from the 2015 target of 52,” Vargas said.

“The State must exhaust all efforts to ensure that the country will meet the targets set forth by the United Nations,” Vargas stressed.

Under the measure, all Filipino women about to give birth and their newborn children who are not currently covered under any existing category of PhilHealth need not pay the monthly contributions to be entitled to the Program’s benefits.

The measure, also known as the “PhilHealth Para sa Buntis at Kanyang Sanggol Act of 2015”, shall amend Republic Act 10606, otherwise known as the “National Health Insurance Act of 2013”, to provide expectant mothers and newborn children with proper pre and post natal care and adequate health care services.

The premium for the coverage of unenrolled women who are about to give birth and their newborn children shall be fully borne by the national government to be sourced from the National health Insurance Fund of Philhealth earmarked from the proceeds of sin tax collections in accordance with Republic Act 10351, otherwise known as “An Act Restructuring the Excise Tax and Tobacco Products.”