ICU inaugurated at Petlaburj Hospital

Maternal deaths force government to take steps for improving facilities

Raising concern: Police officials detain agitating members of BJP Mahila Morcha outside health department office at Sultan Bazaar in Hyderabad on Saturday.

Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy inaugurated an intensive care unit (ICU) at Government Maternity Hospital in Petlaburj on Saturday as part of the State’s initiatives to control maternal deaths in government hospitals.

The Health Minister launched the seven-bedded maternal ICU that cost the Government ₹ 1.64 crore, that doctors at the hospital hope can treat multiple disorders including anaemia, complicated twin deliveries and thyroid problems in pregnant women. The Government had set up a similar facility in Niloufer Hospital last month. The Petlaburj ICU will start functioning next week.

Maternal deaths in the State have put the health administration on the back foot, while exposing the need for advanced care in public hospitals. Over 10 deaths of women who underwent C-section surgeries in the city’s government hospitals occurred this year. An audit of these deaths is underway, even as suggestions have come from various quarters including from within the health administration in the city and representatives of the Centre.

M. Anuradha, Senior Regional Director, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare told

The Hindu that she enquired about the deaths that occurred last month at government maternity hospitals at Sultan Bazar and Petlaburj. “Several improvements were suggested including maintenance of fumigation registries, proper use of injectable medication from used vials and the need to improve the referral system,” she said.

In the series of deaths last two months in most cases, heavy bleeding after C-section due to disabled clotting had led to the deaths. A similar case had occurred last Thursday at Government Maternity Hospital in Sultan Bazaar. Senior government officials, however, claim that the patient’s relatives moved her to a private hospital after undergoing C-section.

As she was refused treatment at the private hospital, she was shifted to Osmania General Hospital where she breathed her last on Saturday. Three other women were moved to Gandhi Hospital on Friday after they experienced a similar problem. While the condition of one woman is serious, the condition of two others has improved, sources informed.

Speaking about problems at maternity hospitals, Mujtaba Hasan Askari, of the NGO Helping Hand Foundation which assists the underprivileged avail healthcare, said that these hospitals were severely understaffed. “Due to understaffing, there is a huge load on the system causing serious hygiene and sanitation concerns,” he said. The burden of lack of a strong referral system and shortage of hands is being witnessed at Gandhi Hospital where over 50 women, including those pregnant and who had given birth, were brought in various conditions of health on Thursday.