Visakhapatnam: Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals division, in collaboration with the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday launched the first of its kind Preserve the Uterus (PTU) Centre of Excellence ihere.

The event at King George Hospital (KGH), which will house one of the two CoEs included a training session for doctors from government run institutions like Victoria Hospital and district level hospitals, as well as ASHA workers, and other healthcare professionals. The second CoE will be installed at Victoria Hospital in the city.

The most common reason for undergoing a hysterectomy in India is heavy menstrual bleeding. Preserve the uterus is a nationwide campaign that was launched in April 2022 by Bayer's Pharma division in collaboration with the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI). The initiative is to drive awareness about the negative impact of unnecessary hysterectomies in India. The PTU CoEs are first-of-their-kind in the country. The first-ever training session in Vizag provided healthcare professionals with knowledge on effective, non-surgical treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding. This program aims to enhance patient care and offer alternatives to unnecessary surgical procedures.

MD India and Country Division Head, South Asia, Bayer's Pharmaceuticals Division Shweta Rao said: "Our initiative, preserve the uterus, has made a significant difference over the years in educating doctors and letting women know that there are alternative methods available to treat heavy menstrual bleeding while also preserving the quality of their lives. We, at Bayer laud the efforts of the AP Government at taking up this challenge, that affects everyone in the community. We are confident this private public partnership will shine a light on this significant health challenge.”

In recent years, hysterectomies have gained attention in India’s health policy due to high prevalence. The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021) shows that the rate of hysterectomy in women across India aged 30-39 years is 3.3%, with the highest rate of 8.7% observed in AP1. This procedure not only raises healthcare costs but can also lead to long-term comorbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, bone pain and high cholesterol.2 Hysterectomy at a younger age is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and osteoporosis and also affects the mental health of women.

KGH Superintendent Dr. P. Sivananda said “the Preserve The Uterus training sessions are an important initiative to bring down the rate of unnecessary hysterectomies in AP and improve women’s health. The CoEs established in partnership with Bayer Pharmaceuticals are a first in the country and we are elated to be taking the lead in addressing this health challenge. The training will be beneficial to upskill healthcare professionals so that a hysterectomy becomes the last option to treat conditions such as heavy menstrual bleeding. We are optimistic that this program will lead to better health outcomes for women in our State and benefit our communities in general.”