New Delhi, July 25th, 2012

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh calling for report within six weeks on a media report alleging that unscrupulous doctors in rural Chhattisgarh are conducting unnecessary hysterectomies- uterus-removal surgeries - to claim money under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY).

Allegedly, approximately 7000 hysterectomies may have been done in Chhattisgarh over the past two and half years. While citing the cases of two victims, the report alleged that private hospitals and nursing homes in Chhattisgarh have claimed Rs. 2 Crore under RSBY for removing the wombs of 1800 women and in most of the cases, there appeared to be no justification for carrying out such surgeries.

The Commission has observed that the allegations, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of women.

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