NEW DELHI, India — Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje has leveled serious accusations against the Karnataka state government, alleging mishandling and concealment of maternal death statistics in Bellari district. Karandlaje is calling for a comprehensive investigation and has specifically pointed fingers at State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao following multiple fatalities reported at the district hospital and Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences.
Over a span of just one week, the Ballari District Hospital witnessed the deaths of four women, with an additional fatality at VIMS. The Union Minister accused the Siddaramaiah-led government of suppressing vital data concerning these incidents. “An urgent inquiry is essential, and appropriate measures must be taken against Minister Rao,” she insisted.
Further compounding the gravity of the situation, Karandlaje claimed that the deaths were linked to the administration of a prohibited glucose solution known as Ringer Lactate, allegedly supplied by Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Ltd. “Despite bans and explicit instructions against its usage, this glucose solution was used post-cesarean procedures which led to these tragic losses,” she asserted.
Responding to these allegations, Minister Rao previously announced that the use of Ringer Lactate had been halted in government hospitals as a safety measure after its potential association with the maternal deaths came to light. The Health Department confirmed that there were seven complications, including four deaths, following 34 cesarean sections at the Ballari hospital from November 9 to 11.
The controversy extends beyond the immediate incidents, touching upon systemic issues within the state’s healthcare management. Karandlaje criticized the Siddaramaiah government for not only hiding the maternal and child mortality rates but also for allegedly burying a report from a committee constituted by Rajeev Gandhi University, which investigated the quality of healthcare at the hospital.
Moreover, she raised concerns regarding the procurement and distribution of pharmaceutical supplies in the state, questioning the reliability and affiliations of Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Ltd. “Who owns Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Ltd? Why were medicines sourced from them? Which districts received these supplies and how many fatalities occurred in each?” she demanded transparency from the state authorities.
Adding another layer to her accusations, Karandlaje claimed that District Health Officers were instructed to obscure the actual tally of deaths, which paints a picture of a possible cover-up involving higher-ups in the health department.
These allegations, if proven true, might indicate serious corruption, administrative negligence, and severe lapses in public health protocols, which could undermine the trust in public healthcare systems, particularly in handling maternal healthcare, which is critical to the wellbeing of mothers and newborns across the state.
The unfolding scandal has stirred calls for accountability and transparency in Karnataka’s healthcare management, while the public and political opponents await clear answers and any consequent political fallout from these grave accusations.