Family planning surgeries dip at Madurai UPHCs

Madurai: Despite increased awareness, family planning surgeries done at urban primary health centres (UPHCs) in Madurai city have seen a gradual decline over the past three years, according to official data. Family planning operation theatres going defunct in UPHCs temporarily are among the reasons cited for the decline.Health department officials told TOI that three UPHCs under Madurai corporation, at Sellur, K Pudur, and Ansari Nagar, which are upgraded community health centres, have facilities for performing family planning surgeries such as vasectomy and tubal ligation. The number of family planning surgeries performed at the three UPHCs came down from 173 in 2022-2023 to 57 in 2024-2025 till March. In fact, only 18 family planning surgeries were performed at K Pudur UPHC during the period, and the operation theatre was defunct for a while. At Ansari Nagar UPHC as well, only five family planning surgeries were recorded in 2024-2025.Health activist A Veronica Mary said the decline not only leads to more referrals to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) but often discourages people from opting for family planning surgeries. "Access to getting family planning surgeries done should be made easy. People will not be willing to skip work for travel or wait for days to get appointments for such surgeries, which is what generally happens at GRH," she told TOI. "In private hospitals, family planning surgeries cost up to Rs40,000 or more, which some cannot afford," she said. She added that more specialist doctors need to be appointed and all UPHCs in the city should have facilities for the surgeries. Currently, there are only two anaesthetists and two gynaecologists appointed by Madurai corporation.City health officer (CHO) Dr P Indira said that until March 2025, only the operation theatre at Sellur UPHC was fully functional for family planning procedures. "We have now revived two more family planning operation theatres—at the UPHCs in K Pudur and Ansari Nagar. The K Pudur UPHC operation theatre became operational by the end of April, with around five family planning surgeries completed so far, including three vasectomies. In June, we also revived the Ansari Nagar theatre. With this, three UPHC operation theatres are now active in the city for family planning services, and people can approach them," she said.