Hospitals Will Now Have to Share Data of All Caesarean Deliveries

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,

In recent years, C-section surgeries have shown an unusual rise. I have received a large number of complaints in this regard. C-section surgeries have a serious impact not only on the health of the mother, but also on her ability to continue work after delivery

Maneka Gandhi, Women and Child Development Minister

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

The WHO standard for C-Sections for a country is 10 to 15 percent. In India, in private hospitals alone, the rate is nearly 31 percent.

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,

It’s a welcome move and a step in the right direction and it shows that the Health Ministry is serious about women’s health issues. It’s a validation of our demands. The next step will be to make it mandatory for ALL hospitals

Subarna Ghosh

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