A large part of the problem is due to geography. However, it is unlikely that they will meet this goal.

The Philippine Secretary of Health set a goal to decrease the mortality rate by 75% by 2015. It is unfortunate because the maternal mortality rate in the Philippines is approximately 260 per 100,000 deliveries, mostly due to postpartum hemorrhage. In addition, carboprost was pulled from use a few years ago so only oxytocin and methergine are available along with carbetocene which is not available in the United States.

Therefore, misoprostol, a very cost-effective and inexpensive medicine to treat postpartum hemorrhage, is extremely restricted because of its possible use as an abortifacient. The Philippine population is over 85% Roman Catholic, and abortion is illegal. Some major differences in the way medicine is practiced in the Philippines is due to the laws. Posted by Ricci Sylla, MD (a third year OBGYN resident from Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara while on a global health elective in Quezon City, Philippines at Quirino Memorial Medical Center).

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