Uterus surgery: NHRC notice to Chhattisgarh

Taking note of media reports about unscrupulous doctors conducting unnecessary hysterectomies in Chhattisgarh to claim money under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY), the National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday sought an explanation from the state government.

Taking note of media reports about unscrupulous doctors conducting unnecessary hysterectomies in Chhattisgarh to claim money under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY), the National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday sought an explanation from the state government.

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The NHRC issued notice to the Chhattisgarh government and asked the state chief secretary to file a report in six weeks.

"The allegations, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of women," the commission said.

On July 17, HT had reported on how unsuspecting women in rural Chhattisgarh were falling prey to greed of unscrupulous doctors, who were allegedly conducting unnecessary hysterectomies — uterus-removal surgeries — to claim money under the RSBY, a national health insurance scheme.

The Chhattisgarh government has already ordered a probe into the matter. The state health department has already initiated action against 22 of the 34 nursing homes against which it found prima facie evidence of surgeries being done without legitimate medical reasons.

According to state health minister Amar Agrawal, over the last eight months, hospitals and nursing homes have claimed R2 crore under RSBY for removing the wombs of 1,800 women.