Karnataka to deploy triple specialists across govt health facilities to boost maternal, child care
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Friday said it has initiated a rationalisation process to strengthen Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates by deploying triple specialists—obstetricians, anaesthetists, and paediatricians—across government health facilities.
According to a statement from the health department, all taluk hospitals will be developed as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEMONC) centres, and 41 Community Health Centres (CHCs) with an average monthly delivery load of 30 or more will retain triple specialists.
Specialists from about 230 underperforming CHCs will be redeployed to taluk hospitals, while remote CHCs such as Male Mahadeshwara Hills, Santhemarahalli, Talakadu, and Bannur will continue to be staffed with specialists.
To offset redeployments, underperforming CHCs will be strengthened with additional medical officers, senior medical officers, dentists, and staff nurses. The plan also includes adding specialists for every 100 extra delivery cases, the statement added.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao called the move a “historic decision” taken by the cabinet on Thursday to enhance maternal services in taluk hospitals and key healthcare facilities across the state.
“Currently, taluk hospitals operate with one gynaecologist, one paediatrician, and one anaesthetist. Now, all 148 taluk hospitals and 41 CHCs—a total of 189 hospitals—will have a double triad: two gynaecologists, two paediatricians, two anaesthetists, and one radiologist, operating round-the-clock, supported by three additional staff nurses,” Rao told reporters here.
He emphasised that emergencies involving pregnancy or maternal and child health must be addressed 24/7 in taluk hospitals.
“All taluk hospitals, 41 CHCs, and district hospitals will provide continuous MCH services to the people of Karnataka,” he said.
The department noted that only 31 of 148 taluk hospitals currently record more than 100 deliveries a month, with many facilities facing specialist shortages. Of 274 CHCs, only 114 have obstetricians, and 11 taluk hospitals operate without one.
To address these gaps, the government plans to create 114 radiologist posts, redeploy staff nurses from underperforming 24x7 primary health centres, and assign three additional nurses to each CEMONC hospital. Counselling and awareness programmes on delivery options, nutrition, immunisation, and family welfare for pregnant women will also be introduced.
The government aims to transform all taluk hospitals into comprehensive CEMONC centres, ensure reliable healthcare services, and significantly reduce maternal and child mortality while minimising emergency referrals, the statement further said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Hyderabad–B’luru, Chennai-B’luru among seven high-speed rail corridors announced in budget
New Delhi: India will expand its high-speed rail network with seven new corridors as part of efforts to promote faster and environmentally sustainable passenger transport, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced while presenting the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament on Sunday.
Outlining the government’s infrastructure plans, Sitharaman said the proposed high-speed rail corridors are aimed at improving connectivity between major economic and cultural centres, while also helping reduce the carbon footprint of long-distance travel.
“The government proposes to develop environmentally sustainable passenger transport systems through seven high-speed rail corridors,” the finance minister said in her Budget speech.
According to the announcement, the identified routes include Mumbai–Pune, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi, Varanasi–Siliguri, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Chennai and Chennai–Bengaluru. These corridors are expected to link key metropolitan cities with fast-growing urban and industrial hubs.
