Karnataka mulls paying government hospitals similar amount for normal deliveries as C-sections
Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Health Department is mulling to pay government hospitals for normal deliveries the same or similar amount currently paid for C-sections, mentioned state health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao during a council meeting on Tuesday.
Between April and October this year, Karnataka recorded a total of 4,61,599 C-sections, accounting for 46 percent of all deliveries in the state, as cited by Deccan Herald.
Rao had previously pointed out that many private hospitals were opting for C-sections more frequently as they are more profitable. To curb this procedure being used unnecessarily, the state health department is considering instructing private hospitals to align the rates for normal and C-section deliveries to avoid financial incentives influencing medical decisions.
"Government hospitals that do C-sections get some money from us for consumables. We are seeing how to promote normal deliveries, so we are looking at how we can pay the hospitals for normal deliveries as well. This will aim to remove any incentive-driven C-section deliveries," said Harsh Gupta, principal secretary, state health department was quoted as saying by the publication.
The proposal aims to reduce the number of avoidable C-sections, ensuring safer childbirth options and improving maternal health outcomes across Karnataka. This comes amid growing concerns over the rising maternal fatalities in the state, many of which have been allegedly linked to medical negligence.
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Some glitches can happen at any large event: Tharoor praises AI Summit
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday praised the AI Impact Summit, saying the first couple of days had gone "extremely well" and "some glitches" can happen at any "large event".
He said what has been impressive is the attendance of presidents, prime ministers, and world leaders who have come with a strong message of wanting to see a newly integrated world in artificial intelligence development.
While noting that the first couple of days went “extremely well” at the summit, Tharoor said there have been “some glitches” but such issues can happen at big events.
His remarks come a day after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi dubbed the ongoing AI Summit in Delhi a "disorganised PR spectacle" and alleged that Chinese products were being showcased there.
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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior party leaders have also criticised the event, saying alleged mismanagement has resulted in "embarrassment" for the country.
Responding to a reporter's question after the launch event of his new book on Narayana Guru, Tharoor said, "Though I have not had the chance to go to the summit, I am speaking there tomorrow. From what I understand, these first couple of days have gone extremely well. There have been some glitches, some organisational things, these things happen in a large event."
"But by and large what has been impressive is the attendance... a number of presidents, prime ministers, and world leaders are here, and they've come with a strong message of wanting to see a newly integrated world in AI development, where the impact upon society would be the principle," Tharoor said.
"Preoccupation in India has clearly led the drive in this area," he added.
Asked about French President Emanuel Macron's remarks about procurement of Rafale jets by India and the Make in India component of the deal, Tharoor said as far as the French Rafale is concerned, parts of it are being manufactured in India.
That is a very important aspect of the deal because it is part of strengthening defence, but also increasing our self-reliance in the defence sector, he said.
"Defence is important for India not because we want to go to war, but because we don't want others to think that we are so weak that they can be tempted to go to war. It is a defensive defence literally, and that is what we are working for and I support the government on that,” he said.
On the upcoming film Kerala Story 2, Tharoor said the first film, Kerala Story, was a “hate-mongering film”.
“They were saying that thousands of people were converted, which is not true. I think there were around 30 such cases over a number of years. Ours is a very big country. If a case occurs here and there, it doesn't mean you should turn it into a big story and use it as propaganda,” Tharoor said.
“In our childhood, films like Amar Akbar Antony used to get entertainment tax exemptions,” he added.
