Maternal and infant mortality rates a country reported by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection are questionable in terms of the real situation. The Supreme State Audit (SSA) in a dedicated audit notes that the reports that are made are truncated as they include only public health institutions. Births in these institutions account for 86.6 percent, while the rest are in private health institutions. Only 6 births in absolute value were performed without the assistance of medical staff according to 2019 figures.

SAA notes that from the data made available by the ministry the trend of infant mortality for public health institutions is declining from year to year which occurs due to the decline in the number of births. The same data show that the decrease in neonatal mortality which has been reduced from 4.7 / 1000 live births in 2018 to 4.0 / 1000 live births in 2019 (0-1 days, 1-6 days, 6-28 days) .

"It is evident that these data are not comprehensive as they reflect the situation of the indicator according to measurements performed only in public health structures and not in private ones," said the audit.

Regarding maternal mortality, auditors estimate that the figures are not comprehensive, leaving out private health institutions. The reporting made by the latter according to a request from the ministry does not comply with the methodology, making the assessment difficult.

"Based on the above and the data and responses made available by the MSHMS audit team, it is evident that the two goals' reduction of maternal mortality by 0.4% less than the level of 2015 and 'reduction of infant mortality' by 0.4 % less than the level of 2015 (6.3 / 1000 ”defined in the Strategic Document and Action Plan for Sexual and Reproductive Health can not be verified and can not be analyzed by MSHMS and the audit team as long as for this strategy there was a total lack of monitoring and evaluation ”underlines KLSH.

What has happened with the care of mothers and babies seems to be related to a total decline of the institutions that have been in charge of this aspect at the ministry. The auditors found that since 2013 there is no longer a relevant structure that has been in charge of maternal and child health issues.

From the analysis of the situation in maternity hospitals, what the auditors have found is related to human capacities where there is a lack of staff in some of them and especially for neon doctors. This lack comes as a result of the conditions that a physician must meet to pass this level as well as the responsibility that such a task carries.

(Source: Monitor)