High Caesarean deliveries in A.P. a concern, muhurtham surgeries not right, says Chandrababu Naidu

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed serious concern over the rising number of Caesarean (C-section) deliveries in the State, revealing that 90% of them occur in private hospitals. 

Speaking in the Assembly during a discussion on the Medical and Health Department on Tuesday, Mr. Naidu criticised the practice of scheduling surgeries on auspicious dates (muhurthams) for convenience, calling it medically unnecessary and ethically wrong.

Medical and Health Minister Satya Kumar has to engage with private hospitals and ensure that surgeries are performed only when medically required, emphasising that natural deliveries must be prioritised. “We are number one in C-sections in the country, which is worrying and not something to be proud of. God has given women a natural body, unnecessary operations must be avoided,” he said.

Referring to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report, the Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh has a relatively high number of medical officers available locally. Currently, the State has around 1,15,000 doctors serving its population. The average life expectancy in India is 70 years. Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) stands at 30, while the State has achieved an impressive 97% immunisation coverage. “Our priority is safe childbirth, accessible healthcare, and a Healthy Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

PPP model 

Mr. Naidu also defended the State government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for medical colleges, stating that it is not privatisation but a method to speed up infrastructure development and ensure healthcare access for the poor.   Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand States are already adopting the PPP model. OP services, medicines, and treatments will continue free under NTR Arogya Seva and Ayushman Bharat, he said, adding, after 33 years, these colleges will return to the government.

Andhra Pradesh has added 1,819 medical seats since bifurcation, including 607 seats in 2024–25 under the coalition government, compared to only 452 seats added by the previous YSRCP government during 2019–24. Under the current policy, 75 convener quota seats per college are allotted to poor students, compared to 64 earlier, resulting in 110 additional seats overall, he said, adding, “Our goal is to build a Healthy Andhra Pradesh, with medical infrastructure superior even to WHO standards.”