Worried that poor, less-educated women, particularly in the rural areas, continue to be at higher risk of undergoing unnecessary and often unjustified hysterectomies, the Health Ministry has written to all stakeholders to work towards plugging “such hysterectomies performed by certain medical institutions”.
The action comes following Supreme Court’s direction last month, where States and Union Territories were instructed to implement health guidelines formulated by the Centre to monitor “unnecessary” hysterectomies within three months.
What is hysterectomy?
It is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus, and sometimes surrounding organs and tissues.
When only the uterus is removed, it is called a partial hysterectomy. When the uterus and cervix are removed, it is called a total hysterectomy.
When the uterus, cervix, part of the vagina, and a wide area of ligaments and tissues around these organs are removed, it is called a radical hysterectomy.
These procedures may be done through the vagina (with no incisions in the abdomen) or through an incision (cut) in the abdomen. (Source: National Cancer Institute)
