Karnataka Plans to Pay Govt Hospitals for Normal Deliveries: Dinesh Gundu Rao
Bengaluru: In a move aimed at promoting safer childbirth practices, the Karnataka state health department is drafting a proposal to pay all government hospitals the same amount for normal delivery as it pays for cesarean sections (C-section). The proposal was announced by State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao during a council meeting on Tuesday.
The proposal follows an alarming statistic highlighting that between April and October this year, the state had a staggering 4,61,599 C-section deliveries, which accounted for 46 % of the deliveries in the state. Minister Rao expressed concern over the rising number of C-sections, particularly in private hospitals, where the procedure is often performed more frequently due to financial benefits, reports Deccan Herald.
Taking cognizance of the fact that some C-sections are unnecessary and can put mothers and infants at risk, the health department said that it will help to cut down unnecessary C-sections by introducing ways to promote normal deliveries in private facilities.
In addition to adjusting payment rates for government hospitals, the government is trying to ensure price parity for normal and C-section deliveries in private facilities as part of an effective government response to the sudden rise in the C-sections. This initiative seeks to create a more equitable healthcare environment and encourage hospitals to prioritize the health and safety of mothers and infants over financial gain, reports the Daily.
"Government hospitals that do C-sections get some money from us for consumables. We are seeing how to promote normal deliveries, so we are looking at how we can pay the hospitals for normal deliveries as well. This will aim to remove any incentive-driven C-section deliveries," said Harsh Gupta, principal secretary, the state health department.
