Caesarean deliveries: Private Hospitals will have to take clearance under Modicare

New Delhi: Caesarean deliveries in private hospitals under the Centre's National Health Protection Mission will only be allowed after the patient is referred from a government hospital specifying reasons.

The aim is to encourage normal deliveries, Chief Executive Officer of Ayushman Bharat- National Health Protection Mission, Indu Bhushan said.

He said normal deliveries will not be covered under the scheme, which aims to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually and benefit more than 10 crore families belonging to the poor and vulnerable sections of the society.

"Caesarean sections will only be allowed in private hospitals under the scheme after they are referred there from public hospitals specifying the reasons, which could be bed or human resource shortage or other issues," Bhushan said.

A caesarean surgery is used for delivery when normal vaginal delivery poses a medical risk to the mother or the child.

"According to WHO, the ideal rate of C-section is 10-15 percent for a country, but in India, caesarean deliveries have become rampant especially in private hospitals indicating commercialization of deliveries," Bhushan said.