Uznews.net – Doctors have been banned from performing caesarean sections without serious grounds in Uzbekistan and this has had an impact on the unofficial payment for giving birth in hospitals, pushing it up from $200 to $300-$350 and $700 in some of Tashkent’s maternity hospitals.

The abolition of free-of-charge healthcare system after Uzbekistan became independent and the lack of a properly-working insurance system have shifted costs of medical services to patients many of whom cannot afford them.

In addition to all kinds of medicines and procedures needed to them, future mothers have to pay an unofficial price in hospital for giving birth. This payment now reaches $300-$350 on average.

Doctors explain this by low salaries they receive in state-run hospitals and the stress they face during labour.

In order to simplify their jobs and avoid the stress, doctors used to perform caesarean sections so they do not need to spend a long time trying to receive births.

However, the government banned this practice, demanding that doctors justify their decisions to turn to caesarean sections, because they inflict serious damage on women’s health.

In response, doctors increased their rates and started widely using medications that intensify contractions, which also damages women and new-born babies’ health.