Bengaluru Urban has reported the highest number of C-section deliveries in Karnataka this year, with 53,905 procedures conducted between April and October, according to State Health Department data. In 2022-23, the district recorded 1,12,341 C-sections, accounting for 40% of institutional deliveries. Although the total dropped to 73,839 in 2023-24, the share of C-sections increased to 44%, and this year it has surged to 49%.
Private hospitals performed 58% of these procedures, while 41% were done in government facilities. Across Karnataka, 4,61,599 C-sections were recorded during the same period, comprising 46% of all deliveries.
Dr. Sheela V Mane, an obstetrician, attributed the rise to referrals from nearby districts like Hassan, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru Rural, where complicated cases are directed to Bengaluru’s advanced medical centers. Common reasons include foetal distress, maternal diabetes, high blood pressure, and other risks. A health official added that such referrals inflate the district’s numbers disproportionately.
Principal Secretary of the Health Department Harsh Gupta emphasized the need to address unnecessary C-sections. “Identifying the root causes, such as high-risk pregnancies, and mitigating them is essential,” he said. The government has formed a team of experts and representatives from institutions like Vani Vilas Hospital to analyze trends and recommend solutions.
Efforts to balance safe maternal care with reducing avoidable procedures remain a top priority for health officials.