Telangana PHC medical officer suspended, 3 others face action after pregnant woman dies
Medical Officer Suspension
Hyderabad: The Telangana government has suspended the in-charge medical officer of Gundala Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Bhadradri Kothagudem district following the death of a 20-year-old pregnant woman and ordered disciplinary action against three others after an inquiry revealed serious lapses in patient care and referral procedures.
The deceased, a resident of Shambhunigudem village, had been undergoing regular antenatal check-ups at the Gundala PHC throughout her pregnancy. According to news reports, she was brought to the health centre in a critical condition on June 13, where she subsequently delivered a stillborn baby.
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Following the delivery, she developed severe postpartum haemorrhage. After receiving initial treatment at the PHC, she was referred to the Yellandu Community Health Centre (CHC) and later shifted to the Government General Hospital in Khammam for advanced medical care.
Despite intensive efforts by medical teams at both facilities, the woman succumbed to her condition. Doctors confirmed that the cause of death was haemorrhagic shock followed by cardiac arrest.
A departmental inquiry conducted on June 17 found significant shortcomings in the health centre's information management system, patient monitoring, case management, and referral mechanisms.
Based on the findings, action has been initiated against an ASHA worker and an Auxiliary Nurse-Midwife (ANM). The inquiry concluded that they failed to identify the woman's severe anaemia during pregnancy, did not adequately inform the medical officer about her condition, and failed to ensure timely referral for higher medical care.
Disciplinary action was also taken against another ANM for conducting the delivery without consulting the medical officer and for failing to ensure that health personnel accompanied the patient during referral despite her critical condition and severe bleeding.
The government has additionally suspended the Medical Officer of Gundala PHC for allegedly being absent from duty at the time of the incident.
In response to the incident, the Telangana government has constituted a high-level committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The team comprises Public Health Director Dr Ravinder Naik, Joint Director (Maternal and Child Health) Dr Sudhira, Bhadradri Kothagudem District Medical and Health Officer Dr Rathod Tukaram, and District Coordinator of Hospital Services (DCHS) Dr G Ravibabu, reports The Siasat Daily.
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