Health Minister directs officials to ensure better maternal, emergency care in tribal areas
The recent maternal death at Gundala Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district has prompted the government to tighten monitoring of maternal healthcare
The recent maternal death at Gundala Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district has prompted the government to tighten monitoring of maternal healthcare services in tribal areas, with Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha on Wednesday (June 24) directing officials to identify high-risk pregnancies at an early stage and ensure timely referral of expectant mothers to appropriate health facilities. Reviewing healthcare services in tribal areas at a meeting with Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Project Officers and senior officials of the Health and Tribal Welfare departments in Hyderabad, the Minister said the Gundala PHC incident should serve as a lesson for the healthcare system and stressed that every effort must be made to prevent similar occurrences.
During the review, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare access in tribal regions and said geographical challenges such as forests, hilly terrain and poor connectivity should not prevent people from receiving timely medical care. Reviewing renal care services in tribal districts, officials informed the Minister that 25 dialysis centres are currently serving 1,373 active patients. The Minister reviewed plans to establish 34 additional dialysis centres with 170 dialysis beds in tribal areas and also examined a proposal to create 37 Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) beds in 12 priority hospitals.
He further directed officials to intensify screening and management of sickle cell disease, thalassemia, anaemia and tuberculosis in tribal areas. He also called for the
expansion of mobile cancer screening services to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
The BriefWire