Indian OBGYN training to reduce maternal mortality

A new distance-learning course, available to medical professionals in India, hopes to teach obstetricians and gynaecologists to deal with "high-risk pregnancies" - a measure intended to reduce the country's maternal mortality rate.

Entitled Critical Care in Obstetrics, the 18-month postgraduate course has been designed by the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), the Times of India reported.

The federation hopes that those who complete the course will be able to man proposed High Dependency Units (HDUs) in public hospitals, giving high-risk expectant mothers the treatment they need.

Teaching is expected to start in March 2014 across seven states, with FOGSI hoping that more will follow as the cooperation of further universities is secured.

Dr Hema Divakar, President, FOGSI explains:

"In the present scenario, women with high-risk pregnancies do not get the required attention,"

She said the HDUs would address their needs, noting that they require "very specialised and expert care".

FOGSI is a National member society of FIGO.