Why Transparency of Private Obstetric Birth Data is Essential for Australia

On 7th September 2024, the Private Obstetric Alliance Forum made a groundbreaking call to action, urging both the Federal and State Governments of Australia to publicly release private obstetric birth data. The demand for transparency comes as more than a quarter of Australian women opt for private obstetric care, yet the outcomes of these births remain obscured from public view. This lack of available data makes it difficult for women, families, and policymakers to make fully informed decisions about maternity care options.

The Power of Data

Private obstetricians, at the forum, presented a snapshot of their audited data, covering over 26,000 private births. The outcomes revealed a strikingly lower rate of complications when compared to national averages:

Pre-term birth rates in private obstetrics were at 7%, compared to 8.7% nationally.
Rates of postpartum haemorrhage were significantly lower at 3%, compared to a national rate of 20%.
Emergency caesarean sections, where vaginal birth was intended, occurred in 20% of cases, though the national data could not provide a direct comparison.

These figures demonstrate the efficacy of private obstetric care, suggesting it could offer higher quality outcomes for mothers and babies. Yet, these statistics remain hidden from public access because private birth data is not easy to access and share.

Financial Impact and Healthcare Policy

The Forum also heard from a women’s health economist who presented a compelling case for private obstetric care being not only a safer option but also more cost-effective. Between 2013 and 2018, the economist’s retrospective analysis found that private births cost an average of $5,900 per birth less than public hospital births. Extrapolating these figures across Australia’s 300,000 public births annually, this represents a potential cost of $1.77 billion per year to the Australian taxpayers.

Despite these findings, the data used by the economist remains unpublished, as state governments have yet to approve its public release. The lack of data hampers informed decision-making, not only for prospective parents but also for policymakers who are tasked with shaping the future of Australia’s healthcare system.

We believe that increasing access to private obstetric services through changes to private health insurance tiers and adjustments to MBS item numbers would see more women choose the private sector, taking system and financial pressure off the public maternity sector.

A Call for Change

The delegates at the Private Obstetric Alliance Forum made a decisive resolution to push for the release of this data. They called on NASOG, the Australian Medical Association, and RANZCOG to work together to advocate for the Federal Government to fund ongoing data collection, analysis and timely release of private obstetric care outcomes.

This effort is aimed at giving Australian families the information they need to make fully informed choices about the model of care that suits them best. Furthermore, accurate and transparent data can help governments allocate funding where it will have the most significant impact, ensuring the best possible birth outcomes across the country.

Transparency for Informed Choices

Access to private obstetric birth data is critical. Without it, the public and policymakers are left in the dark, unable to evaluate the true value of different maternity care options. Birth outcomes data is not just a set of numbers; it represents the health and safety of mothers and babies across Australia. By making this data publicly available, Australia can move towards a more transparent, effective, and equitable healthcare system.

Let’s work together to ensure that private birth data is available to all, so that Australian women and their families can make the best possible choices for their maternity care.

The Private Obstetric Alliance Forum Roadshow

If you missed the Forum in Brisbane and want to learn more about the information presented and the campaign to increase transparency in private obstetric data, NASOG will be holding dinner meetings in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. Places will be limited so click below for more information and to secure your seat.