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PESHAWAR, Nov 25 (APP):The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Pakistan (SOGP) have expressed deep concern over what they termed an “alarming and unjustified rise” in Caesarean sections (LSCS) being performed across public and private hospitals in the country, particularly Zone-III tertiary care hospitals.
Addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club, PMA President-elect Dr. Shershah Syed said an increasing number of women in labour were undergoing C-sections without clear medical indications, calling it a serious violation of women’s fundamental rights.
He warned that denying women the opportunity for normal delivery was unacceptable and directly affected the health of both mother and child.
Dr. Shershah Syed said unnecessary surgical deliveries exposed women to infections, excessive bleeding, poor wound healing, future pregnancy complications and long-term health risks.
He said maternal mortality remained a major concern, with an estimated 20,000 women in Pakistan dying every year due to pregnancy-related causes.
He noted that despite the World Health Organization’s recommendation of a maximum 15 percent C-section rate, several hospitals in Pakistan had reached levels of 50 to 70 percent.
He claimed that LSCS had become a profit-driven practice in many private hospitals, where operations were sometimes conducted without medical need because of higher fees.
The PMA President-elect urged doctors to base their decisions strictly on medical grounds and called on the government to take concrete measures to curb unnecessary C-sections and regulate institutional practices.
He said research consistently showed that normal delivery was safer for both mother and child, resulting in fewer infections, better bonding, improved infant breathing and faster maternal recovery.
He appealed to families to understand the importance of natural delivery and seek C-sections only when medically required.
Dr. Shershah Syed further recommended that all public and private hospitals review their LSCS policies and establish clear protocols to promote normal deliveries.
He emphasized the need for training doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff in accordance with WHO guidelines to bring down Pakistan’s rising C-section rate.
A seminar on the rising rate of Caesarean deliveries is being held today at Hayatabad Medical Complex to discuss the issue in detail.