A Sudanese women’s rights group has called on health authorities to abolish childbirth fees at government hospitals, warning that soaring medical costs are putting mothers and newborns at risk.
The No to Women’s Oppression Initiative said in a statement that women giving birth at public hospitals are being charged between 300,000 and 500,000 Sudanese pounds for natural or Caesarean deliveries, with an additional 150,000 pounds often required for medical supplies.
The group said the costs are beyond the means of many families already struggling with the effects of war and economic collapse.
It described free maternal and child healthcare as a basic right and an essential part of ensuring dignity, justice and social stability.
The initiative also condemned reports that some mothers and their newborn babies are being prevented from leaving hospitals until outstanding medical bills are paid, describing the practice as inhumane and unlawful.
It warned that forcing women to shoulder such costs could discourage them from seeking hospital care and increase the risks faced by mothers and babies during pregnancy and childbirth.
The group urged Sudan’s federal and state health ministries to abolish all charges related to pregnancy care, including prenatal check-ups, delivery and postnatal treatment, and to guarantee free maternity services without conditions.
“Ending the fighting alone is not enough to achieve peace,” the initiative said, arguing that basic rights, including women’s access to healthcare and safe childbirth, must also be protected.
