Koppal: Govt hospitals in Koppal district reported 1,253 newborn and 45 maternal deaths over the past three years, with one infant death occurring in a private hospital. Premature births and health complications were cited as causes.Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao disclosed these figures in response to BJP MLC Hemalatha Nayak during question hour in the legislative council. The health minister stated that a total of 1,253 newborn deaths were reported, including 446 in 2022-23, 491 in 2023-24, and 317 in 2024-25. Except for one infant death at a private hospital in 2023-24, all cases occurred in govt hospitals in the district.Additionally, 45 maternal deaths were recorded between 2022-23 and 2024-25, attributed to various causes such as high blood pressure and bleeding during pregnancy. “These cases are an example of the state of the health sector in the district,” criticised B Girishanand, district president of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV). “The number of deaths in private hospitals is not easily available. Therefore, only one infant death has been shown. In reality, it cannot be ruled out that at least half of such deaths might have occurred there,” he alleged.Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao identified premature birth, asphyxia during birth, complications due to low birth weight, lung infections, pneumonia, sepsis, jaundice, congenital problems, and heart and nervous system defects as causes of infant deaths. He also noted that maternal deaths resulted from high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy, bleeding, sepsis, heart-related diseases, multiple organ failure, and abortion infections.Rao detailed actions taken against doctors in other districts of the state regarding maternal and infant deaths in govt hospitals. Show cause notices were issued to a total of 11 doctors from hospitals in Davanagere, Yadgir, Tumakuru, Shivamogga, and Bengaluru Rural districts, including four in Kalaburagi and two in Ramanagara.The health minister emphasised that there is a system for conducting impartial investigations into such incidents. “The state-level maternal mortality analysis committee analysed 530 incidents last year. Accordingly, the infant mortality rate in the state is decreasing, and according to the SRS report of 2022, the infant mortality rate came down from 19 to 14 per 1,000 live births,” he explained.Despite the high number of deaths in Koppal district, “no medical institution or doctor has been identified and disciplinary action has been taken,” stated the health minister. There is considerable discontent in the district regarding the high rates of maternal and child fatalities and the govt’s lack of disciplinary measures. “Numerous media reports have highlighted irregularities in Koppal’s govt hospitals. The response from the health minister has confirmed this. So, who is accountable for this situation, and what repercussions will arise from these failures?” asks B Girishanand.
