Bayer launches campaign 'Preserve The Uterus' to stall untimely hysterectomies in India

New Delhi: To raise awareness about the vital reproductive organ among women and educate health practitioners, pharmaceutical major Bayer has launched a nationwide campaign "Preserve The Uterus".

The campaign will be implemented in partnership with federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India, (FOGSI) and the Integrated Health and Wellbeing Council, (IHW) to impart important information regarding the "untimely or unjustifiable" hysterectomy and the diseases that impact Uterus.

Speaking on the issue, while launching the campaign here, Dr. Shanta Kumari, renowned Gynaecologist and President, FOGSI said, "With this campaign, we aim to sensitize & educate health care practitioners through knowledge sharing & upskilling to increase acceptance of modern methods of management of gynaecological diseases & raise awareness about issues such as heavy menstrual bleeding among women through multiple media channels."

"There is a need to create awareness and help women understand what hysterectomy or uterus removal is, the diseases that impact the uterus and the choices for treatment that are available to them" she added.

Hysterectomy refers to an operation to remove a woman's uterus. According to the National Family Health Survey 2015-2016, up to 3.6 per cent of Indian women in the age group of 30-39 years underwent a hysterectomy.

Speaking about Bayer's effort in this area, Mr. Manoj Saxena, Managing Director, Bayer Zydus Pharma said "We are committed to helping doctors and patients manage a variety of gynaecological disorders with our innovative solutions in women's healthcare." "The 'Preserve the Uterus' campaign together with FOGSI, will help educate healthcare practitioners across the country on modern methods of management of gynaecological conditions" he said.

Quoting the Ayushman Bharat figure, Bayer claimed that from September 2018 to April 2019, 24,00,981 pre-authorizations were raised for all packages under PM-JAY(Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana). Of these, 21,896 (0.9%) were for hysterectomy.

"Women are not given the full set of options and information that they require about gynaecological morbidity and where hysterectomy fits in. Lack of access to proper gynaecological care outside of pregnancy, poor awareness surrounding gynaecological disorders, and attitudes that see the uterus as disposable post-children all combine to make an early hysterectomy a fait accompli for many women," said Kamal Narayan Omer, CEO of IHW Council.

The campaign was launched ahead of the Hysterectomy awareness month that will be observed in May, which involves a multipronged approach to drive awareness, education and capacity building to support a favourable policy and regulatory environment for this issue among the people especially women.

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