Bhubaneswar, Dec. 9 -- A significant disparity between normal and caesarean deliveries in private and government hospitals has come to light, prompting the Health Department to urge expectant mothers to opt for government healthcare facilities for safer, natural childbirth.

Presenting these details in a written reply during the Assembly session on Monday, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling highlighted a concerning trend of rising caesarean sections in private hospitals across the state.

According to official data, a total of 30,08,383 deliveries were recorded in Odisha over the past five years. Government hospitals accounted for the majority of these cases, registering more than 23,69,000 deliveries, a reflection of their continued relianc...