HC’s Order to Prevent Unnecessary C-section births

There has been an increase in the number of unnecessary C-sections throughout the country in the past few years in both public and private hospitals. According to a new release by Save the Children, between 2016 and 2018 the number of operations increased by 51 percent.

The High Court ordered the concerned authorities of the government to form a committee with concerned authorities within a month to formulate a guideline in order to prevent birth through medically unnecessary Caesarean sections. The guidelines are to be submitted within the next six months. The next hearing will be held on December 5.

The High Court bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal passed the order following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST).

The court demanded an explanation from concerned authorities on their failure to prevent unnecessary C-sections, and why this should not be declared illegal.

As per the HC order, the health ministry and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) will form a committee to formulate a guideline to stop unnecessary cesarean operation, Petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Rashna Imam told The Daily Star.

Source: The Daily Star