Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced plans to launch a special program next month to reduce unnecessary caesarean deliveries in the state. Currently, 46% of deliveries in the state are performed through surgery—36% in government hospitals and 61% in private hospitals.
Addressing a query by member Jagdeva Guttedar in the Legislative Council, the Minister emphasized measures being taken to encourage natural deliveries. Taluk-level hospitals are being equipped to provide 24×7 obstetric services, enabling both natural deliveries and, when necessary, caesarean sections at night. This initiative aims to minimize patient referrals to district-level hospitals and curtail avoidable caesarean procedures.
To bolster maternal and child healthcare, 88 maternal and child hospitals have been sanctioned, with 60 already operational. These hospitals, staffed with specialized personnel, are promoting round-the-clock natural deliveries through comprehensive obstetric services.
A Midwifery Scheme has been introduced as part of efforts to increase natural deliveries. Under this scheme, nurses undergo 18 months of specialized training, equipping them to manage natural deliveries in Midwifery-Led Care Units (MLCUs). Training programs are underway at institutions like Vani Vilas Hospital, Bengaluru, and Fernandez Foundation, Hyderabad, with facilities in Bengaluru, Mysore, and Belgaum currently leading the charge.
Highlights of the training initiatives include:
- Completion of a 12-month program for 1,830 nurses at Cheluvamba Hospital, Mysore, with the final phase concluding in six months.
- Launch of MLCUs in Hassan, Mandya, and Mysore district hospitals by July 2025.
- Ongoing training in Belgaum for 24 nurses, with plans to open MLCUs in Belgaum, Hubballi, and Gangavathi.
- Midwifery training for nurses in Bengaluru, Kolar, Davangere, and Tumkur, expected to wrap up by December 2025.
The government is also conducting caesarean audits at district and taluk hospitals to review the necessity of each procedure and prevent unwarranted surgeries. Monthly district-level review meetings are being held to address the issue.
Since 2018, the state has implemented a three-day competency training program for obstetricians and nurses, focusing on childbirth care and post-natal practices. Minister Rao highlighted how these measures are collectively aiding in the reduction of unnecessary caesarean deliveries across Karnataka.