PhilHealth sets maternal care standards

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has issued guidelines for its accredited health facilities on providing care for pregnant women.

PhilHealth said Friday that acting president and chief executive officer Beverly Ho signed PhilHealth Circular 2026-0016 on 5 October.

Titled “Quality Standards on Maternal Health Care; Antenatal Routine Laboratory Tests for Low Risk Pregnancy, Obstetric Sonography, Cesarean Section Delivery, and Two-way Referral System,” it takes effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper.

The circular aims to align clinical practice with accepted maternal care standards and promote safe, appropriate and quality services across all levels of care.

It also establishes minimum care standards and evidence-based clinical practices under PhilHealth’s quality assurance program.

PhilHealth said the guidelines support its mandate under the Universal Health Care Act to promote quality, equity and financial risk protection.

The circular provides guidance on antenatal laboratory tests for low-risk pregnancies to identify maternal conditions early; obstetric ultrasound for accurate pregnancy dating and early detection of complications; appropriate indications for emergency and planned cesarean delivery; and a two-way referral system to ensure pregnant women receive care suited to their clinical risks.

PhilHealth said the standards will guide clinical decisions while respecting the professional judgment of health care providers.