A grieving family in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte is demanding accountability after a woman died just hours after giving birth at the Cotabato Sanitarium and General Hospital, an incident that has since triggered widespread outrage online and renewed calls for improved maternal healthcare services in public hospitals.
The controversy erupted after Arabiaa Abdulrakim, the sister of the deceased patient, posted a lengthy and emotional account on social media detailing the alleged suffering endured by her sister during labor and the family’s desperate attempts to save her life.
According to the family, the pregnant woman was first brought to the hospital on April 28 for a routine prenatal check-up and to prepare records in case she would soon give birth. However, doctors allegedly advised that she needed to be admitted immediately after they detected that the baby’s heartbeat was weak and that her cervix was already dilated at two centimeters.
The patient reportedly remained confined at the hospital for several days before going into active labor on May 2. During that period, the family claimed the woman repeatedly experienced severe pain and exhaustion.
In her viral Facebook post, Abdulrakim alleged that her sister repeatedly pleaded to undergo a caesarean section because she could no longer endure the labor pains. However, according to the family, hospital personnel allegedly told them that no doctor was available at the time and advised the patient to continue walking in hopes of delivering normally.
The family said they complied with the instructions of the attending midwives and staff, trusting the medical team’s judgment and believing that the patient’s condition remained manageable.
On May 3 at around 2:23 p.m., the woman successfully delivered her baby, briefly giving the family hope that the worst was over.
But moments later, the situation allegedly took a tragic turn.
The family claimed they were later informed that the patient still needed to undergo an operation because her placenta had not fully detached following childbirth. They said they were assured that both mother and baby were still in stable condition.
Several hours later, however, hospital staff allegedly informed them that the patient urgently needed blood transfusions as her condition had become critical.
The relatives rushed to search for blood donors and reportedly traveled as far as the town proper and the Philippine Red Cross while trying to comply with the hospital’s request. But while they were still securing blood, the family said they received the devastating news that the patient had already died.
“Hindi namin matanggap,” the family said in their online appeal, questioning why they were only informed late about the severity of the patient’s condition and why immediate surgical intervention allegedly did not happen sooner.
The viral post quickly drew strong reactions online, with many netizens expressing sympathy for the family while raising concerns about the state of maternal healthcare services in government hospitals, especially for indigent and charity patients.
Former Dustin Mastura also weighed in on the issue, calling for improved healthcare services and greater urgency in responding to emergency obstetric cases in public hospitals.
In response to the growing backlash, Cotabato Sanitarium and General Hospital released an official statement acknowledging the public’s concerns and confirming that a formal investigation is already underway.
Hospital officials said they recognize the sentiments and questions being raised by the public regarding the incident and emphasized that they remain committed to delivering humane, quality, and compassionate healthcare services.
According to Dr. Ibrahim Pangato Jr., the hospital has launched an internal investigation to determine whether there were lapses in medical procedures or other factors that may have contributed to the patient’s death.
The hospital management said reports are now being gathered from doctors, midwives, and other personnel who were on duty during the incident. They also stressed that they are coordinating with concerned agencies while ensuring due process and fairness for all healthcare workers involved.
While declining to disclose further details pending the outcome of the investigation, the hospital assured the public that transparency, accountability, patient safety, and continuous improvement of services remain among their priorities.
The incident has reignited discussions about maternal mortality, emergency response capacity, blood availability, and staffing shortages in public healthcare facilities in parts of Mindanao, particularly in geographically isolated and underserved communities.
As investigations continue, the family of the deceased mother is left mourning the loss of a loved one they believed would soon return home safely with her newborn child — a tragedy that has now become the center of a growing public clamor for answers and reforms in the healthcare system.