DOH, Israel Embassy launch women's health hub at Rizal Medical Center

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines officially launched the Isha Center that would serve women's health needs at the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City on Tuesday.

The new women's hub is poised to assist the needs of women starting from pre-conception, pregnancy, menopause, and beyond.

Among the equipment, programs, and services that will be included in the center are:

• Antenatal Clinics
• Fetal Anomaly Scan
• High-Risk Pregnancy Management
• Labor and Delivery
• Emergency Cesarean Section
• Ultrasound (including point-of-care ultrasound)
• Mobile Surgery Operating Tables
• Maternal Fetal Monitoring System
• Central Nurse System
• Mental Health Assistance (for post-partum and newborn care)
• Post-Natal Check-up
• Breastfeeding Counseling
• Human Milk Bank
• Neonatology Services
• Menstrual Management
• STI Screening
• Women and Child Protection Unit
• Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Clinic
• Cervical Cancer Screening
• Family Planning
• Colposcopy
• Gynecologic Consult and Management

“Equipment is only the start, but it's really the exchange of expertise and the training that will be happening not only that time last year, but also it's going to be continuing exercise… As soon as circumstances in [Israel] resolve, then there will be some exchange of expertise and training that will be happening,” shared Rizal Medical Center chief Maria Rica Lumague.

“It really is a one-stop shop from caring of women from prenatal until menopause or even beyond… What is important is the exchange of best practices from now onwards… It's a physical place to give care, but it's also a kind of incubator of ideas and of exchanging best practices between Filipino experts and Israeli experts, how we can have better health for women,” added Israeli ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh.

The concept for the center began in 2025 under former Israeli ambassador Ilan Fluss, and was finished in a span of nine months in partnership the DOH and Makati Medical Center.

While Rizal Medical Center falls under the Eastern Quadrant, Lumague clarified that the center is open for any women in the country who require its services.

DOH celebrates Women’s Month

In his keynote speech, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa welcomed the opening of the center in time for Women’s Month.

He emphasized the importance of prioritizing women’s healthcare in the country.

“We honor women as natural nurturers caring for everyone dear to them, including their family, loved ones, and even the wider community. This celebration provides an opportunity to reciprocate that care by placing utmost importance on women's health. We emphasize every woman's right to a quality life which is free from illness and enables her to carry out her many roles in the community,” Herbosa said.

“This strong collaboration, together with your dedication to promoting accessible, compassionate, and high-quality healthcare ensures that women in the community receive the care they rightfully deserve,” he added.

He also announced recent upgrades on natal care made by the DOH.

“The board of PhilHealth just approved the benefit packages for antenatal care and postnatal care and we also increased the benefit packages for normal spontaneous delivery and cesarean sections. The latest standard of care that has been adopted, increasing prenatal visits from 4 to 8 and postnatal visits from 2 to 4. The increased frequency of visits allows more extensive care, encompassing nutritional supplementation, immunization, essential screening tests, and informed decision-making in family planning,” he said. —RF, GMA Integrated News