A critical seminar addressing the escalating rate of cesarean deliveries in Pakistan was held at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi. The event, organized by the Council's Medical & Social Welfare Committee, brought together top medical experts to dissect the causes and propose solutions for this worrying healthcare trend.
Financial Gain Over Patient Welfare?
Renowned gynecologist Professor Dr. Shershah Syed posed a poignant question to the audience, challenging the medical rationale behind the high number of surgical births. He questioned whether a woman was created merely to have her abdomen cut open, highlighting a shift away from natural childbirth.
Dr. Syed pointed a finger at the financial incentives driving this trend, stating that cesarean sections have become a highly lucrative procedure. This profit motive, he argued, leads to excessive and often unnecessary operations. He provided a crucial medical contrast: while a first normal delivery might be challenging, subsequent ones typically become easier. In contrast, with C-sections, the first surgery is simpler, but each subsequent one carries significantly greater danger for the mother.
He also raised an alarm about the qualifications of some practitioners, noting that in many settings, doctors performing 10 to 12 surgeries a day are replacing experienced gynecologists. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of immediate mother-child bonding, which is disrupted after a C-section, potentially affecting the newborn's immunity.
Modern Gadgets and Patient Pressure
Professor Dr. Shabeen Naz Masood offered additional insights, linking the rise in C-sections to the increased reliance on modern medical equipment. Sometimes, she noted, unnecessary tests lead to surgical decisions even when the medical situation is not critical.
She also addressed the human element, stating that at times, harsh behavior from doctors can pressure patients into demanding cesarean deliveries themselves. Dr. Masood warned that the first C-section often dictates the future, forcing most women to undergo the same procedure for subsequent births.
While condemning the dangerous practice of quackery and home deliveries by traditional attendants, she stressed that families must choose hospitals offering complete care for both mother and child. She lamented that in some major hospitals, the number of C-sections is directly tied to revenue generation, an approach she described as wrong and regrettable.
A Call for a Return to Normalcy
Both Dr. Syed and Dr. Masood advocated strongly for promoting normal deliveries. Dr. Syed cited countries like the United States, Denmark, and Norway, where midwives successfully manage births, resulting in healthier outcomes. He stressed that the cesarean section rate in Pakistan should not exceed ten percent, a benchmark far below the current reality in many urban centers.
The seminar, also attended by Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmad Shah, featured observations from Professor Dr. Sonia Naqvi and Dr. Bushra Mohsin. The consensus was clear: the medical community must curb the profit-driven overuse of cesarean sections and champion safe, normal childbirth to ensure the long-term health of Pakistani mothers and their children.
