THE Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has recorded 200 out-patient pregnant women a day, however only around 10 to 15 percent of the figure is choosing the hospital during their delivery.
Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society-Southern Mindanao Chapter member doctor Michelle Ong said on Wednesday, February 27, that the daily out-patient pregnant women in the hospital reflected a congested emergency room (ER), which was now slowly being addressed through separating a room for pregnant women concerns.
“Sa SPMC karon, lahi na ang room sa buntis. Still it is crowded because dili man gud ma-prevent kung kanus-a mag-adto ang buntis kasi buntis nga (In SPMC, we have a different room for pregnant women however, the emergency room is still crowded because we would not know when a pregnant woman would go or be rushed to the ER),” Ong explained.
“Might as well, it is okay for them to be crowded in the emergency room where they will be safe and the baby will be safe rather than magpa-ugma pa sila (they will wait for another day to be checked-up),” she added.
Despite the number congested number of pregnant women who go to the SPMC for check-ups and to seek professional advice, only few choose to be delivered at the hospital.
“Mas kadaghanan delivers in the (lying in clinics) and others sa mga private hospitals. Depende kasi ‘yan as to saan komportable manganak, and of course the financial side,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ong assured that registered midwives in lying in clinics are well-equipped in identifying high-risked cases of pregnancy as they are now regulated by the Department of Health (DOH) and Philhealth.
“It is already regulated by DOH and Philhealth that all midwives will have training especially in demonstration, which is an emergency obstetrics care, so they know. Our midwives are already equipped. They know already how to differ high-risked cases,” she said.