Privatizing Fabella leads to pedicab births - solon

MANILA, Philippines - Women's advocates in Congress opposed the privatization of Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, called "baby factory," as the move will lessen the number of beds for deliveries and increase instances of births in public transportation.

"Even now, as the government is already banning home births and passing city ordinances penalizing midwives who provide cheap birthing services, almost every week we hear of women giving birth in taxis and trains," Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi De Jesus said.

"With this privatization of the Fabella, we are sure that poor mothers will experience further hardships in seeking inexpensive natal care for their families. Expect more babies to be born in pedicabs and convenience stores," she added.

The planned construction of Fabella's new building will only has 400 patients, when the 700 beds in the original location already proves insufficient, the party-list solon said.

Labor union Alliance of Health Workers said that six private bidders have participated in the 2013 public bidding to build the new Fabella, while its current compound will be used as commercial property under the Light Railway Transit.

De Jesus also slammed camps justifying the privatization based on government's campaign of Public Private Partnerships.

Privatization of Fabella will lead to new services such as beauty treatments, but De Jesus said government instead has to step in and improve the hospital's facilities first to continue providing affordable health care to mothers.

"It is the constitutional responsibility of government to improve, develop and modernize public hospitals and public health services but doing this should be in the service of the people, not for the interests of profit-oriented investors and rich clients," De Jesus said in a statement.

She  added that when the state talks about services, the welfare of the majority of poor Filipinos should be made a priority over high profit rates of private firms seen to take over the public hospital.