Infant Mortality in India: A Critical Concern Amidst SPTSCON 2025 Discussions

Strategic Insights -

Experts at SPTSCON 2025 conference emphasized that infant mortality in India remains a pressing concern, with approximately 40% of the population comprising children. Dr Narendra Are, director of medical education, Hyderabad, Telangana, and Dr Vikesh Agrawal from Jabalpur highlighted that in paediatric thoracic surgery, approximately 10% of child deaths are caused by surgically treatable birth defects. They proposed that the appointment of a paediatric surgeon at each of India's 780 medical colleges could lead to a 10% reduction in infant mortality.

Key Takeaways:

  • Infant mortality remains a critical concern in India, with approximately 40% of the population consisting of children.
  • In paediatric thoracic surgery, approximately 10% of child deaths are caused by surgically treatable birth defects.
  • The appointment of a paediatric surgeon at each of India's 780 medical colleges could lead to a 10% reduction in infant mortality.
  • Advanced technologies such as 3D and 5D ultrasound, keyhole surgeries using 3mm incisions, and advanced anaesthesia systems have made paediatric surgeries safer and less invasive.
  • Today, India lacks adequate insurance coverage for birth defects, with most private insurance plans not covering congenital anomalies.
  • Paediatric thoracic surgery requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving paediatricians, neonatologists, pulmonologists, anaesthesiologists, radiologists, nurses, and post-operative care teams.

Statistics:

  • India has approximately 780 medical colleges, with only 180 having paediatric surgery departments.
  • Paediatric thoracic surgery accounts for approximately 10% of child deaths due to surgically treatable birth defects.
  • Most private insurance plans in India do not cover birth defects, affecting millions of Indians who transition to the middle class and lose access to government aid.
  • 3D and 5D ultrasound scans can detect defects even before birth through TIFA scans (Targeted Imaging for Foetal Anomaly).

Sources:

  • Dr Narendra Are, director of medical education, Hyderabad, Telangana
  • Dr Vikesh Agrawal, Jabalpur
  • The Society of Paediatric Thoracic Surgery (SPTS)
  • The Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons (IAPS)
  • Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Chapter of Paediatric Surgeons
  • Paediatric Conference The Society of Paediatric Thoracic Surgery (SPTS), a section under the Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons (IAPS), in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Chapter of Paediatric Surgeons, organised its first-ever national conference, SPTSCON 2025 on July 19 and 20, 2025, at the IRCAD India Center's SM Bhandari Auditorium, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences.