MANILA, Philippines — Health experts are urging the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to expand its antenatal care benefit package to include maternal vaccines, arguing that wider access would significantly boost preventive health protection for mothers and newborns.
The push comes following a multi-stakeholder roundtable organized by the Philippine Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology (PIDSOG), which gathered medical representatives from public and private sectors under the theme “Para sa Bawat Ina: Closing the Gap in Maternal Antenatal Care.”
PIDSOG announced plans to draft a formal policy brief advocating for the inclusion of the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine in PhilHealth coverage. The medical society is also evaluating evidence to potentially recommend coverage for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.
“Our goal is to ensure expectant mothers have equitable access to comprehensive maternal care,” Dr. Analyn Fallarme, PIDSOG vice president, said in a September 29 statement.
“Achieving this requires better alignment between clinical recommendations, healthcare guidelines, financing, and service delivery so mothers can receive the care they need throughout pregnancy,” she added.
The proposal is part of 12 priority measures identified during the workshop to address systemic gaps in maternal healthcare policy and execution.
PIDSOG stated it will work on updating the Clinical Practice Guideline on Immunization for Women while pushing for a formal framework linking recommendations from the Health Technology Assessment Council with the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, the Omnibus Health Guidelines, and PhilHealth benefits.
Dr. Lorina Quimio-Esteban, an obstetrics and gynecology infectious disease specialist at Healthway Medical Network, highlighted the vital role immunizations play during pregnancy.
“Pregnant women need protection from vaccine-preventable infections that can cause complications for both mother and baby, especially as newborns are particularly vulnerable. That is why recommended vaccines such as Tdap, influenza, and RSV should be integrated into PhilHealth’s maternal care package,” she said.