In a significant move to strengthen maternal and child health monitoring and tackle gender imbalance in birth records, the Lucknow health administration has begun collecting detailed data on childbirths occurring in private hospitals.
This initiative comes after Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel called for comprehensive data collection during a recent meeting at Raj Bhavan. She emphasized the importance of accurate reporting, especially from private healthcare institutions, to ensure effective health planning and monitoring.
According to a statement by Yogesh Raghuwanshi, District Health and Education Information Officer (DHEIO) at the Chief Medical Officer’s office, private hospitals must now report childbirth statistics and maternity-related services through the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) portal. He added that the move aims to bring greater transparency and coordination in the tracking of maternal and newborn health within the private sector.
The health department has begun issuing HMIS login credentials to private hospitals, with many already uploading their data. Others are expected to join soon.
To reinforce compliance, health officials recently held a meeting with representatives from approximately 75 hospitals in Lucknow, urging them to report every childbirth case, along with data on immunization and family planning services for mothers and newborns.
Governor Anandi Ben Patel also called for a comprehensive long-term strategy to encourage institutional deliveries and tackle issues such as premature births. Expressing concern over the declining girl child ratio, she stressed the importance of raising public awareness, enhancing healthcare services, and implementing robust policies to reverse the trend.