Sudden deaths to be treated as 'notifiable disease': Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao
Bengaluru, Jul 7 (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday decided to treat sudden deaths as "notifiable disease" and conduct postmortem in such cases.
State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said there will be more screening of people above the age of 15 years in the state.
The minister's remarks came in the wake of a spate of heart attacks in the state, especially in Hassan district.
He also sought to clarify that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement linking Covid vaccine with the spate of heart attacks was not with any malafide intention.
"We have decided to announce sudden deaths as a notifiable disease. The government should be notified if sudden deaths happen outside hospitals," Rao said in a press conference.
He said autopsy will be made compulsory in cases of sudden deaths.
The minister underlined the need for screening more people, including children about 15 years of age at least once a year "because there are people who have diseases since birth".
Rao also announced incorporating a subject on heart attacks and diseases causing sudden deaths in the textbooks.
"We have sent a format to the education department to include a chapter on sudden deaths in their curriculum. This will be included in next academic year," Rao said.
It has also been decided to impart training to people on cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Further, the Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti scheme, which is going on in 86 hospitals in the state, will be extended to Taluk level hospitals this year, the minister said.
The scheme is aimed at providing treatment to people suffering sudden heart attacks.
Citing a report by an expert committee set up by the Karnataka government to an investigation into sudden cardiovascular deaths and their possible association with Covid-19 infection and vaccination, Rao said Covid and not its vaccine be the reason behind heart attacks and sudden deaths.
"After Covid there is also spurt in diabetes. Those who died of heart attacks had the risk factors of diabetes, blood pressure and obesity. Covid’s effect is quite evident on people because the patients had taken various medicines during that time and there was lack of physical activities," he explained.
"Covid vaccine was not directly responsible for the cardiac arrests. There were several researches at the national level. The vaccines have benefited people, especially the one we took in India," Rao said.
The minister, however, pointed out that there is some doubt about MRNA vaccines, which were not administered in India.
"It has been slightly found that the MRNA vaccine has caused myocarditis (inflammation of heart muscles)," Rao said.
On Siddaramaiah’s statement linking Covid vaccine with the spate of heart attacks, the minister explained, "the CM's intention was good but some people mistook it. He wanted to know about the side effects of Covid and its vaccine."
Siddaramaiah came in for sharp criticism for attributing Covid vaccines for a series of heart attacks in the state.
"It cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine to the public could also be a reason for these deaths, as several studies worldwide have recently indicated that COVID vaccines could be a cause for the increasing number of heart attacks. Before BJP criticize us on this matter, they should ask their conscience," the CM had said in a post on ‘X’.
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Worker’s body reaches Ranchi from Saudi 4 months after death; family rejects over compensation
Ranchi (PTI): The body of a migrant worker from Jharkhand’s Giridih district killed in Saudi Arabia in October last year has arrived at Ranchi Airport, but his family refused to accept it over pending compensation, officials said.
Shikha Lakra, team leader of the state migrant control cell, told PTI that, before taking the body of Vijay Kumar Mahato, the family is demanding compensation from the private company where he used to work in the Arab country.
Mahato was killed in an alleged crossfire between the police and criminals.
“Since it was a bullet injury case, the matter is before a court in Jeddah. The final compensation may depend on the court’s decision,” Lakra said.
“The Indian Embassy informed us about the body’s arrival, and coordination was done with district authorities. Our role is limited to coordination in cases involving overseas employers and foreign jurisdiction,” she added.
Giridih Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav said the authorities will try to convince the family to perform the last rites.
“We have already sanctioned Rs 5 lakh under the government scheme for migrant’s deaths abroad. The compensation payment might take some time,” he said.
The body is currently at the mortuary of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.
The Family members said they will only accept it if the company provides written assurance regarding compensation. “Without that assurance, we will not receive the body,” said Ram Prasad Mahato, the deceased’s brother-in-law.
Mahato, a native of Dudhpaniya village in Madh Gopali panchayat under Dumri block, was employed as a tower line fitter. His family said he was struck by a bullet during a gunfight between local police and an extortion gang and later succumbed to his injuries.
Social activist Sikander Ali said Mahato is survived by his wife, two young sons aged five and three, and elderly parents.
