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Bengaluru, December 8 – Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday expressed shock and outrage over the tragic deaths of 327 women following childbirth this year in Karnataka. He called for immediate action and accountability from the Congress-led state government, accusing them of negligence and failure in managing the healthcare system.
Kumaraswamy’s remarks were in response to alarming statistics revealed by Karnataka’s Health Minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao. “This information has shocked me,” Kumaraswamy said. “Even in this modern era, where the medical field has made tremendous advancements, it is disgraceful for women to be losing their lives in hospitals.”
The Union Minister did not mince words in his criticism of the government, calling hospitals in Karnataka “death traps” for pregnant women. He emphasized that the Congress government could not evade responsibility for the maternal deaths, demanding a judicial inquiry led by sitting judges of the High Court to investigate the healthcare system’s failures.
Demand for Accountability
Kumaraswamy highlighted the tragic irony that, while the state government has introduced schemes like the Griha Lakshmi Guarantee aimed at empowering women financially, the very women trusting government hospitals for their deliveries are losing their lives. “Women who trust government hospitals for childbirth are returning home not just without their babies, but without their lives,” he charged.
In a particularly concerning case, nine women became critically ill within hours of receiving an IV infusion at Ballari Hospital. Kumaraswamy questioned the quality of the medical supplies being used and pointed to the failure of regulatory oversight. “Women are dying from poor-quality glucose and medicines. It is disturbing to learn that nine women became critically ill just two hours after receiving an IV infusion of Ringer’s Lactate infusion at Ballari Hospital. Which company supplied this infusion? Whose responsibility was it?” he asked.
Outrage Over Negligence
The deaths of women like Sumaya, Rojamma, Nandini, Muskaan, Mahalaxmi, and Lalitamma have sparked public outrage and concern across Karnataka. Sumaya, the latest victim, was admitted to Ballari’s Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) on November 10 and died on December 5 due to multiple organ failure following a cesarean surgery. These deaths have brought the issue of maternal healthcare failures in the state into sharp focus.
Kumaraswamy further criticized the state’s Health Minister, who had stated, “I will resign if I am at fault.” He labeled this response as inadequate, stressing that resignation would not solve the systemic issues plaguing the healthcare system. “Simply resigning will not solve the problem. What is needed is proper treatment for the ailing health department. Atonement is more important than escape,” Kumaraswamy emphasized.
Call for Immediate Action
Kumaraswamy’s comments come as maternal mortality rates in Karnataka remain a pressing issue, raising questions about the quality of care in government hospitals and the availability of essential medical supplies. He called for swift action to restore confidence in the healthcare system and ensure that women seeking care in government hospitals do not continue to lose their lives due to preventable causes.
As the state government grapples with these shocking deaths, pressure is mounting for a thorough investigation and tangible reforms to prevent further maternal deaths and to rebuild public trust in Karnataka’s healthcare system.
