HC Orders To Take Measures To Stop Unnecessary C-Sections

The High Court has directed to take steps in light of the policy to stop unnecessary caesarean deliveries. At the same time, to create public awareness, the court asked to disseminate the policies in this regard within the next six months.

Today Thursday (October 12) the High Court bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zeenat Haque announced the verdict. The final hearing of the rule issued in this regard ended on October 11.

Earlier, on June 30, 2019, the High Court had ordered the formulation of a policy to prevent unnecessary cesarean procedures. The court also issued a ruling asking why the defendants' failure to exercise effective supervision to prevent unnecessary seizures in public and private clinics should not be illegal.

The writ was filed on behalf of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust by their legal advisor SM Rezaul Karim.

Barrister Rashna Imam, the petitioner's lawyer at that time, said, according to the World Health Organization, more than 10 to 15 percent of caesareans cannot be necessary in any country. In Bangladesh, it is about 31 percent. It is 83 percent in private hospitals and 35 percent in government hospitals. 39 percent in NGO hospitals.

According to a report published in BBC Bangla on June 21, 2019, the international development organization "Save the Children" says that the caesarean section rate has increased by 51 percent in the last two years in Bangladesh.

Terming the matter as unnecessary surgery, the agency says, parents are forced to bear the huge cost of giving birth.