17.2 percent deliveries by C-section, highest percentage in Andhra Pradesh : Health Minister Apprises Parliament

WHO in its statement released in April 2015 states that at the population level, caesarean section rates higher than 10% are not associated with reductions in maternal and newborn mortality rates.

New Delhi: Caesarean Sections in the country are much above the WHO acceptable norm, according to statistics of the recent most National Family Health Survey.  The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey also apprised the parliament about the statistics through a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. The minister's reply came in answer to the question raised on the issue of rising deliveries by caesarean section in the country

As statistics clearly point out, there has been a sharp increase in deliveries via C-section in the past decade. According to NFHS 4 (2015-16) survey data, 17.2% births are delivered by caesarean section while according to NFHS 3 (2005-06) survey data, 8.5% births are delivered by caesarean section.

The minister also provided the statistics state wise,

Details of state-wise births delivered by caesarean section are given below:

Source: NFHS4 (2015-16)

Highlighting the steps taken by the Health Minsitry to address the issue, he stated

• In this regard, a communication vide OM M.12015/182/2015-MCH has been sent to all the State Principal Secretaries and Mission Directors of all States and UTs urging them to share the WHO statement with all the Obstetricians and Gynecologists working in their respective states. In addition, the States have been suggested to conduct periodic prescription audits in private sector which could also be extended to the public sector.


• The government of India also has written vide OM M.12015/182/2015-MCH to Federation of Obstetrical and Gynecologists in India (FOGSI) to share the WHO statement among the Obstetricians and Gynecologists under the umbrella of FOGSI.


• The Government of India has enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 with the objective of registration and regulation of health care institutions including those in the private sector. Health being a state subject, it is the responsibility of the state to effectively implement the act, however, the centre provides continuous guidance, strict monitoring and directives for the regulation of high caesarean section rates.


• All CGHS empanelled hospitals are directed to display the information regarding ratio of deliveries by caesarean section vis-à-vis normal deliveries. A communication was sent in this regard vide OM Z15025/2017 to all the CGHS empanelled hospitals.