In the wake of complaints about unwarranted hysterectomies being performed in government and private hospitals in Haveri district, Chairperson of the State Commission for Women Nagalaxmi Bai paid a visit to the District Hospital in Haveri on Wednesday and issued a strict warning to the medical officers there.
After inspecting the facilities in the women’s ward and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and interacting with patients, Ms. Bai sought answers from the medical officers for hysterectomies being performed in the hospital.
She said that the commission had served a show-cause notice seeking details.
Ms. Bai told the medical officers that she had received complaints about bribe being taken from patients for conducting deliveries. She said that strict action would be taken against such staff and asked the medical officers to take steps to prevent such instances. District Health and Family Welfare Officer Mahesh Baddi explained the reasons for hysterectomies and said that no such surgeries were being performed unnecessarily.
He said that 90 % of women in the district suffered from malnutrition and anaemia and this could be cured only through nutritious food.
Dr. Baddi said that nearly 500 deliveries took place in the district hospital in a month.
