The Maharashtra government has issued a resolution making it mandatory for all private healthcare facilities, including trust hospitals and nursing homes, to report deaths of children in the 0-5 age group within 24 hours to local health authorities. The data must also be logged monthly on central tracking portals such as the Health Management Information System (HMIS).
Government's Concern Over Under-Reporting
The resolution noted that while data from public health institutions is accurately recorded on the Civil Registration System (CRS) and HMIS, records from private healthcare institutions are not being captured accurately. It stated that fewer child deaths are being registered in private facilities compared to public ones, indicating potential under-reporting.
Current Mortality Rates
Maharashtra currently has a neonatal mortality rate of 11 per 1,000 live births and an under-5 child mortality rate of 16 per 1,000 live births. However, public health department officials believe these figures do not reflect the true picture due to under-reporting from private institutions.
Response from Private Practitioners
Private practitioners have denied any under-reporting. A city-based pediatrician argued that death certificates are issued by treating doctors before a body is taken to the cemetery, making each death notifiable. A medical administrator at a top trust-run hospital in Bandra stated that they enter required data on the system every month, suggesting that any issues are not due to the hospital itself.
The new mandate aims to ensure accurate child mortality data, which is crucial for public health planning and interventions.
