Hyderabad hospitals favour C-sections over normal deliveries
HYDERABAD: Private hospitals are increasingly opting for Caesarean sections (C-sections), with commercial considerations, families’ preferences for specific birth timings and women’s fear of labour pain contributing to the trend.
Even when a pregnant woman who has completed her term has a possibility of delivering normally, C-sections are often preferred, according to the report.
National Family Health Survey reports indicate that around 1.20 lakh deliveries take place in Greater Hyderabad every year, of which 62% are C-sections. The rate is higher in private hospitals, where more than 83% of deliveries are reportedly through C-sections.
Hyderabad district records rise in C-section deliveries
| Year | Total deliveries | Normal deliveries | C-sections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 76,709 | 46,349 | 30,360 |
| 2025-26 | 75,804 | 40,521 | 35,283 |
| 2026-27 | 16,047 | 8,259 | 7,788* |
Private hospitals offer packages up to ₹3 lakh
Prominent corporate hospitals in the city are charging lakhs of rupees under various package-based services. A separate rate is fixed for a normal delivery and another for an operation, with packages ranging from ₹1.20 lakh to ₹3 lakh per delivery, depending on the hospital.
The report says families of pregnant women are informed about these packages in advance. The average C-section rate in private hospitals stands at 83%, while some hospitals record rates of up to 90%, according to a health department audit report.
Social preferences also drive scheduled C-sections
Social trends are also cited as one of the reasons for the rise in C-sections. Some families decide in advance on the date and time for a child’s birth based on an auspicious date, lucky number or day of the week and ask doctors to perform a C-section accordingly.
Some families also want their children to share the same birthday. In some cases, parents reportedly pressure doctors, saying, “My daughter cannot bear the labour pain. Perform an operation.”
Government hospitals show better normal-delivery rates
Government hospitals are making efforts to conduct normal deliveries wherever possible, amid pressure from the government to promote the procedure.
As a result, normal deliveries account for up to 52% of births in government hospitals, while C-sections account for about 48%.
