Ang mahal! Cost of normal delivery sees a staggering increase due to COVID-19, from P25k to P170k

- The cost of childbirth has more than quadrupled during the pandemic as pointed out by a number of mothers

- Three factors at play ultimately led to the increase namely, hospital, type of delivery and the health conditions of the mom

- Items that were added because of the pandemic include N95 masks, PPE suits, and more

- Some of the most costly hospitals, as cited by Smart Parenting, include Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa

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The cost of giving birth in the Philippines is not something akin to the cost of buying candy. Couples prepare well in order to meet the increasing costs.

With COVID-19, the cost became more burdensome as additional costs were factored in by hospitals. Among these are the use of N95 masks, as well as the PPEs. Those who are suspected COVID-19 cases also need to be isolated, adding on to the costs.

Smart Parenting compiled the feedback of moms who gave birth during the quarantine period, which they shared in their Smart Parenting Village. Based on their data, an N95 mask can cost between P200 to P500 per piece. The full PPE suit is much more expensive. The cheapest is in the vicinity of P650 to P2,500. There are PPEs, which could cost P5,000.

While the cost for the cesarean section is still relatively high, the most surprising of all is the cost of normal delivery. What used to be a less costly option for many moms has seen a huge jump.

One Daddy Jay said that the normal delivery cost them P170,000. His wife was COVID-19 suspected because of diarrhea. After she delivered the baby, she had to be isolated. So the added expenses include the COVID tests for his wife and baby, additional infectious disease doctors were also added. So the usual P25K ballooned to P170K in a matter of four days.

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Mommy mia said "Php100,000 for natural spontaneous delivery (NSD) at Medical Center Taguig. Our room was ward only for mommy and baby. We were quoted only Php65,000 per sobrang mahal ng professional fee ni OB-gyn pala, plus PPE is charged to the patient."

One Mommy Marjorie said that she gave birth via normal delivery at the Asian Hospital on March 3 and her total bill including her baby's, less PhilHealth was P180,000.

At Los Baños Doctors Hospital, Laguna, Mommy Zea said that she gave birth on April 16 and her bill including that of her baby's was almost P40,000.

A certain Mommy Ayen said that when she gave birth on March 27, her total bill was as P126,000. Her OB-gyn's PF is P50,000, anesthesiologist at P20,000 and pediatrician at P10,000. She had an emergency cesarean section (ECS), stayed in a private hospital, and during that time, there was no COVID-19 test yet for pregnant women, which she pegged at P9,000. The cost already included the PPE and masks.

Mommy Joana gave ECS birth on April 16 at Christ the King Parish Church in Las Piñas. Her total bill was P75,000 net of PhilHealth and she stayed in a private room for two days.

Another mom, Mommy Antonette, also gave birth via ECS at the Zarate General Hospital in Las Piñas. According to her, she stayed in the hospital for three days and her total bill was almost P100,000. Thankfully, she got a discount from her doctors and she paid P70,000.

One mom, Mommy Jei stated that "CS at Asian Hospital costs Php250,000. PhilHealth covered around Php20,000."

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In a previous report by KAMI, the government faced problems when they imposed the initial community quarantine, which was elevated into enhanced community quarantine. It also suspended transportation causing massive problems with commuters.

The COVID-19 outbreak started out in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. Scientists believed that the virus came from an animal at one of Wuhan's wet markets.

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Source: KAMI.com.gh