WINNING: QC expands private maternal care network

Quezon City is quietly expanding its network of high-performing private maternal care providers, signaling a broader push to strengthen frontline healthcare delivery through public-private partnerships.

The latest boost comes as 49 private lying-in clinics in the city received the Seal of Excellence (SoE) for full compliance with national and local maternal, newborn, and child health standards — the highest number of recipients since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why it matters

Private lying-in clinics serve as critical access points for safe deliveries, prenatal care, newborn screening, and family planning — especially for low- and middle-income families. Strengthening these facilities improves health outcomes while easing pressure on public hospitals.

Launched in 2016 by the Quezon City government and Unilab Inc., the SoE program sets performance benchmarks aligned with Department of Health (DOH) standards, including essential maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition indicators.

This year’s 49 awardees reflect steady improvement from 42 recipients last year, underscoring a post-pandemic recovery in service quality among private healthcare providers.

The big picture

The initiative shows how structured incentives and compliance monitoring can professionalize smaller healthcare facilities and integrate them into broader service delivery networks.

“Private lying-in clinics play a crucial role in improving health outcomes for mothers and babies, and ultimately in saving lives. We thank our Seal of Excellence recipients for their dedication in meeting our requirements and providing quality care to their patients,” Quezon City Health Department head Dr. Ramona Asuncion DG. Abarquez said.

Seal of Excellence awardees meet licensing and accreditation requirements, follow service delivery network protocols, and provide key services such as maternal counseling, immunization, newborn screening, and family planning.

“We are pleased to see more private healthcare facilities raising the quality of services they provide to mothers and their newborns. This reflects their commitment to safe and effective maternal and neonatal care, aligned with our mission to improve the quality of life of Quezon City residents,” Abarquez added.

By the numbers

The jump from 42 to 49 compliant clinics in 2025 represents a measurable expansion of safe, accredited birthing facilities across the city.

The progress complements Quezon City’s recognition as the Best Local Government Unit in the National Safe Motherhood Program by the DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development during the Regional Awards 2025 held on Nov. 13, 2025.

For national health insurers, the improvements signal stronger alignment with universal healthcare objectives.

Dr. Bernadette Lico, vice president of the PhilHealth Regional Office–National Capital Region, praised the SoE awardees who “went through the eye of a needle” to meet strict health standards. 

She said their commitment to providing safe, affordable, and quality service for mothers and their babies elevates the entire healthcare system, and helps the country move closer to the realization of universal healthcare.

Dr. Lester Tan, regional director of the DOH’s Metro Manila Center for Health Development, also congratulated the recipients.

What’s next

 As the program nears its 10th anniversary, partners are looking to deepen collaboration.

“As we near the 10th anniversary of the Seal of Excellence Awards, we convey our gratitude for the dedication of Quezon City and its health department in pursuing reforms on maternal and child health, together with Unilab,” Claire D. Papa, head of public relations and partnerships of Unilab, said in a statement.

“This is a clear manifestation of a public-private partnership fueled by a shared goal of delivering sustainable and quality care to Filipino families,” said Papa. “As we approach almost a decade of partnership, we look forward to even stronger collaboration in advancing maternal and child health.”

Papa noted that sustaining the program supports the country’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly reducing maternal mortality and ending preventable newborn deaths by 2030.

Bottom line

By institutionalizing clear standards and engaging private clinics as active partners, Quezon City is translating maternal health policy into operational gains — expanding access to safe, quality care for mothers and newborns across the city. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma