Maryam Shah
ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): Caesarean section deliveries are rising sharply across Islamabad’s major hospitals, raising concerns among gynecologists, health researchers, and patients. The increase has sparked debate over medical necessity, maternal complications, and allegations that financial motives sometimes influence surgical decisions.
Dr. Urooj Yasir Khan, gynecologist at CDA Capital Hospital Islamabad, said the rise in C-sections is not unique to Pakistan. Globally, the ideal rate should be between 10 and 15 percent according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but in many countries it has reached 30 to 40 percent.
She explained that multiple factors contribute to this increase like advanced monitoring and early risk detection, women’s fear of normal delivery, mandatory repeat C-sections after a previous surgical birth, and in some cases commercial interests.
Dr. Khan emphasized that reducing unnecessary C-sections requires educating women about normal delivery, providing pain relief options such as epidurals, ensuring labour room staff actively support patients, and encouraging family participation. She highlighted that normal delivery allows faster recovery, less pain, and better outcomes for both mother and baby. Surgical delivery, she added, should be performed only when there is a genuine risk to the mother or child. “The ultimate goal must always be a safe mother and a safe baby,” she said.
Obstetrician Dr. Ayesha Nazir, from Saeed International Hospital G-11,Islamabad, highlighted additional medical and social contributors specific to Islamabad. Women are increasingly experiencing their first pregnancy at an older age, and rising rates of diabetes and obesity, combined with more frequent use of infertility treatments, often result in multiple pregnancies such as twins or triplets, which carry higher risks during childbirth. She added that some mothers request a C-section due to fear of labour pain or convenience, but medical teams weigh these requests carefully against the patient’s condition.
Some patients, however, question doctors’ intentions. A woman Hania Yousaf admitted to a hospital in Islamabad alleged that surgical deliveries are sometimes performed for financial gain, saying, “doctors do C-section for money.” Another family claimed that due to what they described as doctors’ careless or inattentive attitude during labour, a patient’s condition worsened, forcing her into a high-risk C-section while leaving her and her family helpless. Though unverified, these accounts reflect growing frustration and fear among expectant mothers.
Medical experts warn that unnecessary C-sections carry serious health risks. Women who undergo the procedure face higher chances of placenta accreta, a condition where the placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall. This can cause severe bleeding, require blood transfusions, and in extreme cases, lead to removal of the uterus. Prior C-sections also increase the likelihood of placenta previa, surgical complications, longer recovery, chronic pelvic pain, infections, and repeat surgical deliveries.
For newborns, research shows higher risks of breathing difficulties at birth. Children delivered by C-section are also more likely to develop asthma, allergies, eczema, and food sensitivities, and may have a higher risk of early childhood obesity. Pakistani studies indicate that babies born to mothers with placenta accreta face greater chances of respiratory distress and developmental delays during infancy.
Consultant gynecologist Dr. Sidra Hassan said hospitals must follow evidence based guidelines strictly. She warned that a C-section should never be treated as a default or convenient option. Dr. Maria Usman added that many women request surgical delivery due to fear, often unaware of long-term risks, and called for stronger antenatal counselling. Some doctors also cited overcrowded labour rooms and private hospital pressures as factors indirectly encouraging surgical interventions.
With C-section numbers rising in Islamabad, public health experts are urging urgent oversight. They call for stricter monitoring, patient education, and ensuring that surgical delivery remains a medically necessary choice, not one driven by convenience or profit. Doctors warn that maintaining this balance is critical to protect the health of mothers, safeguard future pregnancies, and ensure the wellbeing of newborns, while restoring public trust in hospital practices.