Hospitals performing Unnecessary C Sections to face action: Health Minister
Hyderabad: Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha has directed health department officials to take stringent action against private hospitals conducting cesarean deliveries without a medical emergency. Emphasising the importance of natural childbirth, he suggested a robust C-section audit mechanism to identify and curb unnecessary procedures.
The minister stressed the need to increase the number of normal deliveries in government hospitals. He instructed that the benefits of normal delivery and the potential risks associated with cesarean sections be clearly communicated to pregnant women and their families starting from antenatal checkups. To support this effort, he recommended midwifery training for nurses working in government hospitals.
To improve maternal and child health services, the minister called for further enhancement of facilities at maternal and child healthcare centres. He urged officials to encourage pregnant women to choose government hospitals for their deliveries. Additionally, in light of the rising summer temperatures, the minister emphasised the need for measures to protect pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children from the heat. He instructed that fans and coolers be installed in all hospitals, and that air conditioners be made fully functional in the required wards.
Fire safety in hospitals was also a key focus during the review. The minister inquired about the ongoing process of filling vacant posts in government hospitals. Officials informed him that over 8,000 posts were filled last year, and recruitment is underway for more than 6,200 additional posts. These include positions such as Doctor, Lab Technician, Nursing Officer, Multipurpose Health Assistant, and AYUSH Medical Officer.
The minister ordered that the written tests for these positions be completed promptly, the results released immediately, and the recruitment process finalized within a month. He also advised that timely promotions be given to doctors, nursing officers, and other medical staff who serve the public, and that proposals be submitted to the government for filling vacancies created by these promotions.
Last year Karnataka government also adopted a similar approach to curb unnecessary C-section deliveries. Amid the growing rate of cesarean deliveries, which now account for 46% of births and are overshadowing normal deliveries, the Karnataka government formulated a special program to control and reduce unnecessary cesarean deliveries in the state in 2024.
