Political economy of buntis problems and buntis benefits: a critical analysis of PhilHealth's maternity care package for the rural poor expectant mothers

Abstract

The Philippines’ health care system in general is at a very dismal state thereby negatively affecting the maternal health of its population. At present, 11 mothers are still dying every day because of pregnancy-related complications (Pazzibugan, 2009; Umil, 2011). In 2011, maternal mortality has reached an alarming rate of 221 deaths per 100,000 live births. With only few months remaining before 2015 ends, it would appear that Philippines has already failed to achieve the Millennium Development Goal number five. The financial protection of patients is dubbed as the most important component of health care systems (Caballes, 2014), including maternal health care. The government has placed PhilHealth in the backbone of its programs aimed at providing financial protection, and achieving universal health care in the country. Consequently, the efforts of PhilHealth to provide financial assistance will reduce health related problems such as the soaring maternal mortality rates in the country. Thus, this research aims to critically analyze the role of PhilHealth in providing adequate maternal health care services to the rural indigent mothers of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. The study focuses on three aspects of universal health care which is also enshrined under the mandate of PhilHealth – affordable, accessible and acceptable. Various journals, books, PhilHealth circulars, interviews with experts from the academe, government, and health financing sector, as well as counseling interview with 20 mothers from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro will reveal if PhilHealth has been really true to its own mandate