New order issued on C-section deliveries

As Maia Janashia, the Secretary of Health Minister stated, C-section delivery rates appear to be highest - 56 percent - in Samegrelo. As Janashia announced, Cesarean delivery rates in Georgia are extrremely high and, accordingly, it does not meet the recommendations which the International Organizations give regarding the issue.

According to Janashia, Universal Health Care Program found that in some regions, C-section rates prove to range from 42 percent to as high as 70 percent.

As the Secretary of the Minister asserts, it is known throughout the world that cesarean delivery may be clinically harmful as well, with higher risk of infection, injury, and need for emergency hysterectomy for the mother and greater risk of asphyxia, respiratory distress, and other pulmonary disorders for the baby compared with vaginal birth. From this it automatically follows that C-section delivery rates must be decreased in Georgia. For this purpose, Georgian gynecologists were familiarized with “the National protocol of C-section deliveries”. As Nino Beridze, the representative of Health care Department states, the protocol defines under what health conditions a future mother must refuse vaginal birth and turn to C-section delivery. The National protocol which was prepared by perinatologist and gynecologist association of Georgia is planned to entere into force by Minister’s order and Georgia’s citizens will be obliged to fulfill it.

As Georgia’s Health Minister, Davit Saargeenko announced the protocol does not aim at banning the C-section delivery; it will simply provide Georgia’s residents with detailed information about its risks and dangers.

The National Protocol will enter into force from the end of September.