India, June 2 -- The Maharashtra government has made it mandatory for all private hospitals and healthcare institutions to report deaths of children aged up to five years to public health authorities within 24 hours, officials said on Monday.

The decision was announced through a government resolution (GR) issued by the Public Health Department on May 29. The order mandates that all private hospitals, maternity homes, paediatric hospitals, multi-speciality hospitals and other healthcare facilities where child deaths occur must record and report such deaths through the Civil Registration System (CRS) and the Health Management Information System (HMIS).

The state has reduced its neonatal mortality rate to 11 deaths per 1,000 live births an...