There has been a sharp increase in deliveries via caesarean section in the past decade across the country with States including Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Kerala in the lead.
The 2015-16 survey data of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 states that 17.2% babies are delivered by caesarean section. In contrast, 2005-06 survey data of NFHS-3, showed 8.5% births by c-section.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had said in a statement released in April 2015 that at the population level, caesarean section rates higher than 10% are not associated with reduction in maternal and newborn mortality rates.
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare) Ashwini Kumar Choubey gave this statistic in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
He added that the Union Health Ministry has taken various steps to “rectify the situation”, including directing all Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)-empanelled hospitals to display the information regarding the ratio of deliveries by caesarean section vis-à-vis normal deliveries.
Also, a communication has been sent to all the State Principal Secretaries and mission directors of all States and Union Territories, urging them to share the WHO statement with all the obstetricians and gynaecologists 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 Central government has enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, with the objective of registration and regulation of healthcare institutions, including those in the private sector,” he added.
