New Regulations Target Unnecessary C-Sections in Egypt

The Ministry of Health and Population has introduced stricter regulations for private hospitals and clinics in an attempt to curb unnecessary caesarean deliveries. Facilities must now submit monthly birth statistics, including C-section rates classified under the international Robson system, along with the medical reasons for each case.
Doctors will also be required to use the partograph, a monitoring tool that tracks the progress of labour and ensures interventions only occur when medically necessary. Officials say the move prioritises the wellbeing of mothers and newborns by encouraging safer natural births while reducing avoidable surgery.
Egypt has one of the highest caesarean rates in the world, with nearly three in four births recorded as C-sections in 2021. Although the figure fell to 61% in 2023, it remains above the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 10% to 15%.