ILOILO – In this time of coronavirus pandemic, can pregnant women who are about to deliver be refused admission by health facilities?
A 29-year-old pregnant woman from Barangay Cabugao Sur, Pavia town wanted to safely give birth to her third child at a clinic or hospital. But she was turned away.
The plain housewife ended up giving birth on the cardboard-covered floor of a small, bare house assisted by a paltera.
“Pigado kami. Ang bana ko wala man obra,” according to Marilyn Baya.
There were requirements asked of her but she failed to meet them – a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and an ultrasound.
“Wala kami kwarta para sa RT-PCR test kag pa-ultrasound,” Baya told Panay News.
Worse, according to Baya, she was informed about the requirements by their barangay health workers only on Aug. 31.
“Tama na ka-late ako gin-inform nga need gid ang COVID-19 test result,” she lamented.
Baya said she first went to a clinic in nearby Santa Barbara town at around 6:30 a.m. yesterday. She was turned away for not meeting the two requirements.
She then proceeded to the provincial government-run Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan town but she was also turned away.
“Nag-try kami basi mabaton ako sang iban nga ospital nga wala gawa kaso sang COVID-19 pero gin balibaran kami,” she lamented.
Baya stayed for about an hour at the Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital despite having labor pains in the hope of being taken in, but to no avail. She decided to just go home and seek a paltera.
“Tani gin-accommodate lang nila ako kay daw mabata na gid ko. Gin labay-labayan lang nila kami. Ang gin una nila ang nagapa-checkup samtang ako nagapasakit na,” said Baya.
The management of Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
DOH GUIDELINES
On May 28, 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) issued interim guidelines on the continuous provision of maternal health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the guidelines’ provisions prohibited healthcare provider networks (HCPN) such as hospitals from turning away women who are about to deliver.
The provision read: “All pregnant women who are about to deliver and those who have delivered but manifesting signs of complication shall not, under any circumstance, be refused admission by the health facility. However, infection control protocols shall be strictly followed, including use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).”
DOH stressed that “inadequate care in pregnancy can compromise the health of both mothers and newborns. Hence, there is a need to ensure that pregnant mothers are appropriately managed, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Health secretary Francisco Duque III signed the interim guidelines.
Another provision read: “Province-wide and city-wide HCPNs, which include both private and public healthcare providers, facilities and institutions, shall designate facilities where COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pregnant women can access maternal health services, including delivery.”
Also, healthcare workers in public and private clinics “shall continue to provide antenatal, delivery and postnatal services with strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, including but not limited to temperature checking and assessment for signs and symptoms prior to entry, frequent hand washing, proper cough etiquette, wearing of appropriate PPEs, social distancing, and cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces.”
As early as April, DOH assured pregnant women it was safe to give birth in hospitals and other health facilities amid the coronavirus crisis.
“Huwag tayong mangamba na manganak sa ospital,” stated a DOH infographic posted on its Facebook page.
The agency assured expectant mothers that hospitals were following strict infection prevention and control measures to prevent any spread of COVID-19 in their facilities.
“Sa panahon ngayon na may COVID-19, pinakaligtas pa ring manganak sa isang health facility na nagbibigay ng birthing services,” DOH stressed.
It added that pregnant women should still undergo pre-natal checkups or consult with their doctors through call, text or e-mail.
If a pregnant woman decides to give birth in a different facility, she should ask for a referral or endorsement from her initial health care provider, the DOH said.
It reminded all pregnant women to always wash their hands and avoid crowded places to prevent infection.
It also advised mothers to continue taking iron-folic acid supplements, follow a healthy diet, and exercise proper hand-washing especially before touching their newborn babies./PN
