BENGALURU: Displaying the number of C-sections and normal deliveries in private hospitals may not reduce its number, said city’s gynaecologists, a day after union minister Maneka Gandhi made the suggestion.
Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi wrote to Union Health Minister J P Nadda, suggesting that he make it mandatory for hospitals to publicly display the number of caesarean surgeries and normal deliveries undertaken in the hospital.
She also wanted to name and shame gynaecologists who do C-sections unnecessarily, although it is unclear how these gynaecologists will be identified.
According to the National Family Health Survey-4 conducted between February and July 2015 in Karnataka, where 26,291 women were interviewed, 23.6 per cent births were by C-section. 40.3 per cent surgeries were at private hospitals while 16.9 per cent were at public hospitals. WHO prescribes only 10-15 per cent of total deliveries through C-sections as healthy.
Dr Chitra Ramamurthy, HoD, Gynaecology, Apollo Hospital, Bannerghatta Road said, “A lot of patients request for a C-section. I don’t think gynaecologists recommend a C-section if there is no indication for it. Instead of displaying the number, constituting a committee to look at whether the surgeries were indicative or not would be better.”
“One of the reasons why prenatal mortality, still births is lesser in private hospitals compared to government hospitals is C-sections. It helps in high risk pregnancies and brings down mortality,” she added.
Dr Gayathri Kamat, HoD, Gynaecology, Fortis Hospital, said, “C-section rates have a lot to do with the profile of women who come to private and government hospitals.
“Those who visit corporate hospitals come with complications and risk factors. The level of physical activity of women who visit government hospitals is more. With women in the urban set up putting career before children, their sedentary lifestyle, age and background of infertility plays a role in whether or not they require a C-section,”she added.