Health care crisis: mothers die because of inadequate care!

Health care crisis: mothers die because of inadequate care!

In recent months, the worrying situation in maternal and child health care has become increasingly serious. OVO PT expresses its concerns about access to healthcare for this vulnerable group. In 2024, there were several closures of gynecological and obstetric emergency departments within the Serviço Nacional de Saúde, particularly in Lisbon and the Tagus Valley. This development has serious implications, especially in a year that saw 252 deaths of infants under one year old, according to the National Institute of Statistics. This equates to a mortality rate of 3.0 per 1,000 live births and represents an alarming 20% ​​increase compared to 2023.

OVO PT highlights that infant mortality is a sensitive indicator of a country's overall health situation and urgently calls for more comprehensive data collection to better understand the causes of rising mortality rates. The question is also raised as to whether the increase in infant and maternal mortality is solely due to inadequate medical care or whether excessive, medically unjustified interventions also play a role.

Challenges for expectant mothers

A significant issue remains access to primary care physicians and adequate pregnancy monitoring for all pregnant women, regardless of their immigration status. Thousands of expectant mothers lack access to general practitioners and basic primary care services. Reports of discriminatory practices that result in denials of benefits and administrative hurdles for immigrant women add to an already critical situation. This is described by OVO PT as a serious violation of the human right to healthcare.

The situation is not only worrying in Portugal; Globally, women die every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth, highlighting the urgency of the situation. UNICEF reports that cuts in humanitarian funding are affecting health care worldwide, particularly for mothers, newborns and children. In many countries, pregnant women face serious consequences, particularly in humanitarian settings. Dr. WHO's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlights the dangers for pregnant women and calls for their rights to health to be strengthened.

Global perspective

The global maternal mortality rate was an estimated 197 per 100,000 live births in 2023, down from 211 (2020) and 328 (2000). Yet, 70% of maternal deaths worldwide occur in sub-Saharan Africa, despite progress made there. The highest risks of maternal mortality exist in countries such as Chad (1 in 24), Central African Republic (1 in 24), Nigeria (1 in 25), Somalia (1 in 30) and Afghanistan (1 in 40).

To reduce current maternal mortality, an annual decline of 15% is required to meet the UN 2030 target. The organizations are therefore urgently calling for investments to ensure care during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. The goal is clear: to ensure access to quality health care for all mothers as a fundamental right. To achieve this, a fundamental shift in healthcare is necessary that exploits the full potential of existing systems and at the same time combats existing grievances.

For more information about the challenges in maternal health and the actions needed to improve the situation, read reports from The Portugal News and UNICEF.