Health minister Khader holds review meeting in Shivamogga, orders inquiry into death of woman
Health Minister U.T. Khader has said that his department will hold an inquiry into the death of a woman from Shivamogga, days after she gave
Health Minister U.T. Khader has said that his department will hold an inquiry into the death of a woman from Shivamogga, days after she gave birth to a baby. Speaking to presspersons in Shivamogga on Saturday, after holding a review meeting with officers, Mr. Khader said the objective of his department was to ensure that everyone received quality healthcare. The death of a new mother was a matter of serious concern for the government, he said. “I have directed the Deputy Commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the incident and submit a report. Besides that, I will send a team of State-level officers of the department to inquire into the issue and submit a report as well,” he said. A woman, a native of Hosanagara taluk, gave birth to a baby at J.C. Hospital in Tirthahalli on July 3.
Following heavy bleeding, her condition turned critical, and both the mother and baby were shifted to McGann Hospital in Shivamogga. Her family members later took her to Manipal, where she died on Friday. There were allegations that staff at McGann Hospital, a medical college hospital, had not responded adequately to her condition. Khader said the medical college came under the purview of Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, and that he would discuss the issue with his Cabinet colleague and take the measures necessary to prevent such incidents in future. He also questioned why the woman was referred to Manipal when the medical college in Shivamogga had a team of expert doctors and all the necessary facilities. On Kyasanur Forest Disease, Mr. Khader said that during his recent visit to Delhi, he had appealed to the Centre to speed up research into finding a suitable medicine to treat the disease.
This year, five people have died of the disease and 130 have tested positive for the infection. The Minister said he had instructed officers to recruit doctors for primary health centres on a contract basis, and that eligible candidates should receive their appointment orders within three days. The department would submit a proposal to the government seeking special pay for doctors posted to hilly and remote areas. He added that his priority was to fill vacancies for doctors, staff nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians and other staff in hospitals, and that he had already discussed the issue with the Chief Minister. Responding to BJP leaders’ opposition to the State government issuing permanent residence certificates (PRC), Mr. Khader questioned what problem the BJP had with certificates being issued to residents who needed them.
The BriefWire