Private hospitals will now have to display data of caesarean surgeries conducted along with information on normal deliveries, as per a new Health Ministry order.

The direction applies to all private hospitals listed under the Central Government Health Scheme.

The ministry has also directed state governments to periodically conduct audits on health facilities.

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi had written to Health Minister JP Nadda about the unusual rise in C-section deliveries in the recent past. She told The Hindu,

She had also pointed out the high rate of caesarean deliveries in Telangana (54%) and Tamil Nadu (34%). According to experts,

Health activist and consultant gynaecologist at Apollo Hospital feels the number is much higher, in some cases, close to 70 percent. A lack of proper audit of hospitals, convenience, and greed of doctors has pushed the C-Section rates to an alarming level.

A recent Change.org petition by Subarna Ghosh demanding private hospitals display their caesarean data garnered over 1,80,000 signatures. She says,

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