Talisay City Council Okays Ordinance Regulating ‘Birthing Centers’

(PNA) — The Talisay City Council has approved an ordinance setting guidelines for the use of the city’s birthing centers to prevent the deaths of women undergoing prenatal, delivery and postnatal treatment.

The ordinance also provided for specific charges for a patient who will avail herself of the birthing center’s services.

The ordinance is now undergoing review before the Cebu Provincial Board’s committee on ways and means, headed by PB Member Thadeo Ouano.

The ordinance, drafted by Talisay Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, head of the committee on health, provides that only skilled birth attendants including a licensed physician, nurse or a midwife can perform prenatal and postnatal services.

“All childbirths shall only be done in hospitals, birthing centers or barangay health centers/lying-in centers where highly trained health-care professionals could handle the delivery better,” part of the ordinance read.

The measure said the role of traditional birth attendants, locally known as hilots, should be limited to “supportive care and services during prenatal, perinatal and postpartum of mothers.”

Among the functions and duties of traditional birth attendants are to assist in the formulation of birth plans for pregnant mothers, guide all pregnant women to rural health units, act as companions in the birthing centers during labor and delivery of the mother and assist mothers to initiate breastfeeding within 30 minutes to an hour after the delivery.

A pregnant mother who will avail herself of the services of the city’s birthing centers will have to pay PHP1,500 if she lives in Talisay and PHP3,500 if she is a non-resident.

A standard fee of PHP600 will be charged for newborn screening, regardless of residency.

PhilHealth members should submit the requirements to avail themselves of the free services, while indigent patients need a referral letter from the City Social Welfare and Development Office. (PNA) CTB/EB/EBP