File Photo: An Egyptian nurse monitors newborn septuplets at a hospital. Ahram
The move is part of government efforts to improve maternal and child healthcare, ease financial burdens on families and encourage natural childbirth in uncomplicated pregnancies, according to a ministry statement released on Tuesday.
The ministry said natural childbirth is considered the preferred medical option in suitable cases because of its health benefits for both mother and child and its role in reducing unnecessary caesarean sections and related complications.
Hospitals under the ministry’s healthcare system are fully prepared to provide the service in line with quality and safety standards, the statement said, adding that trained medical staff and necessary equipment were available across all governorates.
The ministry said the decision reflects broader state efforts to strengthen healthcare services, particularly those related to women’s health and primary care.
Egypt has one of the world’s highest caesarean section rates, according to health officials and international studies, with C-sections accounting for a majority of births in recent years.
The phenomenon has been driven by the convenience of scheduling births for both mothers and doctors, as well as the higher profits associated with surgical deliveries compared with natural births.
In recent years, the health ministry has repeatedly warned against unnecessary surgical deliveries because of the health risks and financial costs associated with them, introducing a series of measures aimed at reducing medically unnecessary C-sections.
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