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.
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Former minister C M Ibrahim announces to launch new regional party for Karnataka
Kalaburagi: Two years after being expelled from the Janata Dal (Secular), former minister C.M. Ibrahim has announced that he will launch a new regional political party in Karnataka on January 24, reported Deccan Herald.
Speaking at a meeting organised by the Nava Karnataka Nirmana Andolana in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Ibrahim confirmed the birth of the new party.
The 77-year-old politician stated he would soon be meeting with other like-minded individuals to choose a symbol for the party.
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Ibrahim emphasised that the organisation would be guided by the principles of 12th-century social reformer Basavanna and the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
A veteran politician, Ibrahim served as Union Civil Aviation Minister during the tenure of H.D. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister and later headed the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal (Secular). He was expelled from the JD(S) in 2023 on charges of anti-party activities.
His exit from the party followed sharp differences over the JD(S) decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As the then state president of the JD(S), Ibrahim had publicly criticised the alliance, claiming it was finalised without his knowledge. He had also reportedly convened meetings of his supporters and expressed support for the INDIA bloc.
