The Indian government has highlighted the strength of the country’s system for recording births and deaths under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, through the Civil Registration System (CRS), in response to concerns expressed by the medical journal Lancet regarding the accuracy and transparency of health data sharing. This system is essential to the development of public health policies, epidemiological research, and healthcare planning since it offers a centralized, all-inclusive method for documenting significant events.
A framework for the organized registration of births and deaths throughout the nation was established by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. Births and deaths must be reported in accordance with this Act to the local registrar of births and deaths so that they can be registered. The CRS ensures a continuous, permanent, mandatory, independent, and universal recording of important occurrences through the operation of almost three lakh registration units across the country.
The CRS’s requirement that births and deaths be reported within 21 days after the event is one of its main characteristics. To compensate for delayed reporting, the Act does, however, also permit late registrations. This adaptability makes sure that important events—even those that are reported after the first 21 days—are recorded in the system.
Government sources stressed that the CRS offers a trustworthy method for capturing mortality data in response to questions expressed by the Lancet about India’s reporting of COVID-19-related deaths. Government officials maintained the veracity of India’s data, even as the Lancet questioned the country’s stated COVID-19 death toll of 0.48 million, citing estimates from WHO and other sources that are six to eight times bigger (including additional fatalities related to COVID-19).
Government sources claim that all states produce reports within a year following the index calendar year, making it possible to compile extensive data. This reporting schedule allows for late registrations and makes it easier to compile precise and current data on births and deaths.
Over time, the CRS has changed, utilizing technology to increase data gathering and reporting accuracy and efficiency. Today, over 90% of births and deaths are recorded online via state or federal portals, demonstrating a rise in ownership and awareness among relevant parties. The process has become more efficient, there is less paperwork, less chance of error, and the vital data are more reliable overall as a result of the switch to digital registration.
Additionally, the CRS is essential to the formulation and execution of healthcare policies. For the purpose of spotting patterns, evaluating the effectiveness of healthcare programs, measuring health outcomes, and focusing interventions, precise and timely statistics on births and deaths are crucial. By keeping an exhaustive log of significant occurrences, the CRS enhances the overall efficacy of public health initiatives and supports evidence-based decision-making.
The foundation of India’s healthcare system is the Civil Registration System for Births and Deaths, which guarantees precision, openness, and dependability in the registration of important events. The CRS has shown resilient and adaptive in the face of obstacles and criticism, developing into a cutting-edge, effective system that upholds data-driven governance in the healthcare industry and advances public health goals.
SOURCE:
HEALTHWORLD.COM
