Telangana Health Minister orders monitoring of maternal healthcare in tribal areas
Hyderabad- Following the recent maternal death at the Gundala Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Health Minister C Damodar Raja Narasimha has directed health officials to identify high-risk pregnancies at an early stage and ensure timely referrals to higher healthcare facilities.
The directive comes in the wake of the incident, which prompted the Telangana government to tighten monitoring of maternal health services in the tribal areas.
According to The Hindu news report, the decision was taken in Hyderabad following a review of health services in tribal areas during a meeting with Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) project officers and senior officials from the Health and Tribal Welfare departments.
At the meeting, the Minister stated that the incident at the Gundala PHC should serve as a lesson for the healthcare system and emphasised that every possible effort must be made to prevent such incidents.
During the review, the Minister reiterated the government's resolve to provide equitable healthcare services in tribal areas and stated that geographical challenges—such as forests, hilly terrain, and poor connectivity, should not prevent people from receiving timely medical treatment.
Meanwhile, while reviewing kidney-related care services in tribal districts, officials informed the minister that 25 dialysis centres are currently providing services to 1,373 active patients.
Therefore, the Minister reviewed plans to set up 34 additional dialysis centres, with a total of 170 dialysis beds, in tribal areas and also considered a proposal to establish 37 Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) beds across 12 priority hospitals.
He directed officials to further accelerate the screening and management of sickle cell disease, thalassemia, anaemia, and TB in tribal areas. He also emphasised expanding the reach of mobile cancer screening services to facilitate early detection and treatment.
Medical Dialogues had recently reported that 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.
