Private hospitals in Hyderabad came under investigation for recording C-section deliveries as normal deliveries in order to hide them.
A team of government officials will now be dispatched to visit the addresses of the women to verify the information recorded by the hospitals. If officials find misreporting, a complaint will be filed with the National Medical Commission.
Increase in C-section deliveries
C-section deliveries in private hospitals in Hyderabad and other districts of Telangana have increased alarmingly in recent years, according to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5).
There has been an increase from 74.5 percent recorded in NFHS-4 to 81.5 percent now. Rural areas have a percentage of 80.6 percent, whereas urban areas have 82.7 percent.
During the last five years, 75 percent of deliveries in Hyderabad were C-sections.
It is believed that superstitions about auspicious timing contribute to an increase in unwanted C-section deliveries in hospitals in Hyderabad and other districts of Telangana.
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In addition to not wanting to bear the pain of labor, most women opt for the procedure.
Aside from the above two reasons, some private hospitals encourage pregnant women to have C-sections unnecessarily to make easy money.
As a result of rising C-section deliveries in Telangana, certain measures have been taken by the State government.
As recently as a few months ago, State health minister T Harish Rao told the media that the government would implement a two-pronged strategy to combat the growing number of cases.
Government hospitals will be given a Rs. 3,000 incentive to increase normal delivery rates, while private hospitals with a high number of procedures will have their registration suspended.
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In addition to being costly, unplanned C-sections make it difficult for a woman to give birth vaginally in the future.
Additionally, it is associated with certain risks for newborns, such as delayed breastfeeding and low birth weight.
The procedure, however, can prevent maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity when medically justified.
