The Reproductive Health Law

1. The Reproductive Health Law

2. Republic Act 10354 The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012

3. Reproductive Health Bill 4244 The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development

4. What do you think is the reason why they decided to delete “population and development”?

5. Substitution House Bills 96, 101, 513, 1160, 1520, 3387 Passed by more than 100 legislators

6. Section 1. Title The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012

7. Section 2. Declaration of Policy Universal basic human right (regardless of A, S, RC, CB) Gender equality, equity, and women’s empowerment Universal access

8. What is Gender Equality? Absence of discrimination on the basis of a person’s sex, sexual orientation and gender identity.

9. What is Gender Equity? Refers to fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men.

10. Section 3. Guiding Principles Freedom of choice (right to make free and informed choice---there is responsibility) Promotion of the rights and welfare of couples, adults, women, and adolescents (every person particularly couples, adult individuals, women, and adolescents) Guarantees effective reproductive health care including maternal and child health, safe delivery and birth of healthy children, and sound replacement rate….promote right to health, responsible parenthood, social justice and human development.

11. Section 3. Guiding Principles Provision of ethical and medically SLAA (non-abortifacient), E, and Quality reproductive health care services and supplies to promote people’s right to health especially the poor and the marginalized. Promotion of all effective natural and modern methods of family planning that are medically safe and legal. (Registered and approved by the FDA)

12. Section 3. Guiding Principles • State shall promote programs that: • Enable couples to meet desired number of children and timing (birth spacing) with consideration to the health and resources of women • Achieve equitable allocation and utilization of resources • Ensure effective partnership various stakeholders

13. Section 3. Guiding Principles • State shall promote programs that: • Implement studies to analyze demographic trends • Promote scientific studies to determine efficacy and effectiveness of alternative medicines and methods for reproductive health care • Foster join implementation of reproductive health services by both the national and local government units.

14. Section 3. Guiding Principles • State shall promote programs that: • Promote active participation by non-government, women’s, people’s, civil society organizations and communities. • Ensures that all women needing care for post abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a human, non-judgmental and compassionate manner in accordance with law and medical ethics. • Caveat: The state recognizes that abortion is illegal and punishable by law

15. Section 3. Guiding Principles • State shall promote programs that enhance: • Gender equality and women empowerment are central elements of reproductive health. • Respect individuals’ preferences and choice of family planning methods. • Each family shall have the right to determine its ideal family size. However, the state shall provide necessary information related to RH. • There shall be no demographic targets and the mitigation, promotion and/or stabilization of the population growth is incidental to the advancement of RH.

16. Section 4. Definition of Terms Abortifacient-drug or device that induces abortion. Adolescence (adolescent)- period of physical and physiological changes of an individual (puberty to maturity) from 11 to 18 years old. (young people between the ages of 10 to 19 years old who are in transition from childhood to adulthood)

17. Section 4. Definition of Terms Family Planning-refers to a program which enables couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and to have access to a full range of SAEN modern natural and artificial methods of planning pregnancy.

18. Section 4. Definition of Terms • Reproductive Health • The state of complete physical, social, and mental wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive health system, its processes and functions. • Implications: People are able to have a responsible, safe, consensual, and satisfying sex life, capability to reproduce and freedom to decide, if when and how often to so.

19. Section 4. Definition of Terms Reproductive Health Care- refers to the access to a full range of methods, facilities, services, and supplies that contribute to reproductive health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health-related problems.

20. Section 4. Definition of Terms • Elements of Reproductive Health Care • Family planning (services and information) • Maternal, infant, and child health and nutrition including breastfeeding (including prenatal and post natal care) • Prohibition of abortion and management of abortion complications • Adolescent and youth reproductive health • Prevention and management of RTI, HIV and AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

21. Section 4. Definition of Terms • Elements of Reproductive Health Care • Elimination of violence against women • Education and counseling on sexuality and RH • Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers • Male responsibility and participation in RH • Prevention and treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction • Reproductive health education for adolescents • Mental health aspect of reproductive health care (coping)

22. Section 4. Definition of Terms RH Rights-refer to the rights of couples, individuals, and women to decide freely and responsibly on matters pertaining to their reproductive health (e.g., number of children, spacing, timing) free of discrimination, coercion, violence….

23. Section 4. Definition of Terms Reproductive health and sexuality education-refers to a lifelong learning process of providing and acquiring complete, accurate, and relevant age- and development-appropriate information and education on RH and sexuality through life skills education and other approaches.

24. Section 4. Definition of Terms Responsible Parenthood- refers to the will and ability of a parent to respond to the needs and aspirations of the family and children.

25. Section 5. Hiring of skilled health professionals for maternal health care and skilled birth attendants. LGU shall hire adequate number of nurses, midwives, and other skilled health professionals for MHC. Midwives and nurses can administer life saving drugs such as oxytocin (quick birth) and magnesium sulfate (to avoid seizure and preeclampsia---high blood during pregnancy).

26. Sec 7. Access to Family Planning • All accredited facilities shall provide a full range of modern family planning methods. • Private health facilities may provide services for a pay but will also likewise provide free services to indigents. (except for those non-maternity specialty hospitals and those owned by religious group) • Minors will not be allowed to access modern methods of family planning without parental consent (except if the minor is a parent or has had a miscarriage)

27. Warning!!!! Be sure to consult your doctor when you use injectables, pills, patch, spermicidal, and other modern contraceptions. Not all can be effective and they can be harmful.

28. Sec 9 • Products and supplies for modern family planning methods shall be part of the National Drug Formulary. • Included in the purchase of essential medicines and supplies (FDA).

29. Sec 10. Procurement and Distribution of FP Supplies • DOH shall procure, distribute to LGUs and monitor the usage. • Distribution shall be based on: • Number of women in their reproductive age and couples who want to space or limited their children. • Contraceptive prevalence • Cost of family planning supplies

30. Sec 12. PhilHealth Benefits for Serious and Life-Threatening RH Conditions. All health conditions (STI, AIDS, HIV, RH related cancer) related to RH System shall be given the maximum benefits provided by PhilHealth programs including the provision of ARV (anti-retroviral medicines) .

31. Sec. 14 Age and Development-Appropriate Reproductive Health Education Sex and RH education shall start from grade five to fourth year high school. Age- and development- appropriate RH education to adolescents….

32. Contents Values formation Knowledge and skills in self protection against discrimination, sexual violence and abuse, and teen pregnancy. Physical, social and emotional changes in adolescents Children’s and women’s rights Fertility Awareness

33. Sec. 20 Ideal Family Size The State shall assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development and encourage them to have two children as ideal family size. Attaining the ideal family size is not mandatory or compulsory. No punitive action shall be imposed on parents having more than two children.

34. Summary • Positive Side • Promote sound reproductive health • Fight against HIV, STI, and AIDS • Empower women and children • Promote scientific studies to determine efficacy of alternative medicine.

35. NOTE • The instrument does not in anyway promote abortion. • The bill is not in anyway geared towards population control (but is something to ponder). • It does not promote sexual promiscuity among adolescents (due to existing mechanism which requires minor to present parental consent) .

36. Intended or not? The country needs to Low infant mortality Low fertility Decrease maternal death -------------------Demographic Bonus/Dividend

37. When to end? The government must be cautious about the negative impacts of population control.

38. Video • Reporter’s Notebook