Having a Baby in the Philippines

Maternity services in the Philippines are highly efficient, owing to its vast reserve of world-class obstetricians and other medical professionals on top of advanced maternity equipment in many public and private hospitals.

The process of obtaining maternal care is simple. A pregnant woman simply has to visit an obstetrician-gynecologist regularly from the time the pregnancy is confirmed up to the visit just before delivery. There many OB-gynecologists practicing in the country, even in the rural areas, but the differences in maternal services will depend on the type of facility where a woman decides to seek care. Although all OB-gynecologists are competent, some services may not be available due to lack of equipment. For example, in rural areas, women may not get ultrasound tests because of the absence of the necessary machine.

The Philippines has a national healthcare system that partially subsidizes medical costs of its members, including maternity. An expat mother who has obtained residency status in the country may also apply for membership and, at the same time, have international health insurance while in the Philippines to cover what comes in excess of their PhilHealth coverage. 

The quality of treatment may depend more on the location of the hospital or clinic rather than whether it is public or private. Service is often the same, but women are more comfortable in private hospitals where there are fewer patients, and staff can offer more personalized care. Another difference between public and private hospitals is cost, although, in the Philippines, the cost of giving birth is cheap. Some hospitals may charge higher rates, but expats with private health insurance in the Philippines can use the benefits of their insurance policy.

Dual citizenship applies in the Philippines. Therefore, all children born in the Philippines are automatically Filipino citizens.