Official Data Reveals Potential Exploitation in Private Hospitals Across Punjab
Official data from the Sehat Sahulat Programme has unveiled startling statistics, indicating that nearly 80% of all C-section procedures covered by the program in private hospitals across Punjab were carried out by obstetricians. This revelation, based on data spanning from 2016 to January 2024, has raised concerns about potential financial exploitation at the expense of taxpayers.
The figures show that private hospitals claimed a total of Rs16.36 billion for C-section and normal delivery procedures, a substantial portion of which went to private health facility owners. The State Life Insurance Corporation’s subsidies on medical procedures under the Sehat Card Programme have further contributed to these figures.
During this period, a total of 668,238 C-section procedures were performed, with a vast majority, 525,619, conducted in private facilities compared to 142,619 in government hospitals throughout the province. Similarly, 210,124 normal deliveries were recorded, with 142,621 occurring in government hospitals.
Medical experts are calling for an independent investigation into the significant disparity between C-section rates in public versus private facilities. They suggest that financial incentives for C-sections may have led to unnecessary procedures, as obstetricians are paid substantially more for C-sections compared to natural births.
The data shows a stark contrast in the number of C-sections performed annually in private hospitals versus public ones. In 2023 alone, private facilities carried out 197,376 C-sections compared to 97,390 in public hospitals. This trend continued in 2022, with private hospitals performing 281,137 C-sections compared to 31,372 in government facilities.
In response to these findings, the caretaker Punjab government implemented a ban on C-section procedures in private hospitals in mid-2023. This decision came after private hospitals claimed an alarming Rs15 billion for C-sections and normal deliveries in 2022 and 2023 combined, a significant increase compared to the previous six years.
However, the ban faced challenges as public hospitals also stopped accommodating delivery cases under the health card, citing insufficient compensation. Despite this, public hospitals continued to serve expecting women without health card coverage.
The Punjab Health Initiative Management Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ali Razaq, declined to comment on the issue, leaving many questions unanswered regarding the potential exploitation of the Sehat Sahulat Programme for financial gains.
This revelation has sparked calls for greater oversight and transparency within the healthcare system to ensure that taxpayer funds are used appropriately and that patients receive necessary care without undue financial incentives for medical procedures.
