Home / Health / Maharashtra Mandates 24-Hour Child Death Reporting
Maharashtra Mandates 24-Hour Child Death Reporting
2 Jun
Summary
- Private hospitals must report child deaths within 24 hours.
- New rule applies to children aged up to five years.
- Enhanced data aims to identify risk factors and improve care.
As of May 29, Maharashtra's Public Health Department has mandated that all private hospitals and healthcare facilities must report the deaths of children up to five years of age within 24 hours to public health authorities. This new regulation, issued through a government resolution, requires facilities to record and submit this information via the Civil Registration System and the Health Management Information System.
The state has achieved significant reductions in neonatal and under-five mortality rates, surpassing national targets. However, incomplete reporting from private institutions has created data gaps. The new guidelines compel private healthcare providers to notify the nearest public health facility about child deaths promptly.
Officials state that this accurate and timely data is crucial for identifying risk factors, delays in treatment, referral system failures, and inadequate care contributing to child mortality. This detailed information will enable health authorities to implement more effective interventions and refine policy decisions.
Private hospitals not yet integrated with the HMIS platform are instructed to obtain user credentials from district health authorities for regular reporting. Public health institutions will be responsible for verifying the submitted data and providing necessary training to private facilities.
