Maternal Death: Karnataka Health Minister Flags Issues In Lab Report; Prahlad Joshi Questions 'Isolated' Error

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah noted that the government has suspended the Drugs Controller and blacklisted the company that supplied the questionable solution.

The BJP former Minister Sriramulu, staged protests in Ballari, accusing the state government of negligence and failing to address the issue adequately.

Source : Pixabay

As the maternal deaths in Ballari reached five on Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured stringent action against those responsible based on the report by an expert committee. The committee, led by the Development Commissioner, is investigating the deaths, which are suspected to be linked to substandard Ringer Lactate solution.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Siddaramaiah told PTI, "When four deaths happened, I held a meeting, we had also discussed it during yesterday's cabinet meeting. The Health Minister (Dinesh Gundu Rao) is visiting there (Ballari) today, also Health department officials."

He noted that the government has suspended the Drugs Controller and blacklisted the company that supplied the questionable solution. "Once we get the report, action will be taken against the guilty," he added.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated that steps had already been taken, including a show-cause notice issued to the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL). "We have written to Drug Controller of India also because our labs show that certain drugs have failed but their labs show that the same drugs are fine, why is that discrepancy happening. Our development commissioner is inquiring into the whole matter," he explained.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: On Ballari maternal deaths, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao says, " We have suspended our drug controller already. We have issued a showcase notice to the Managing Director of KSMSCL (Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited). We have… pic.twitter.com/9KY2SGx0MN

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2024

However, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi criticised the state government for deflecting responsibility. "Caretaking and health is the primary duty of the state government... If they think it is the centre's fault, then why did it not happen anywhere else?" he questioned.

.@INCKarnataka is displaying heights of irresponsibility, blaming the Centre for their negligence. Ensuring good health of the citizens is the primary duty of the State Government. If it was truly Centre’s fault why isn’t such incident happening everywhere else?? Dinesh Gundu Rao… pic.twitter.com/ZetK0f87pf

— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) December 7, 2024

Meanwhile, the BJP former Minister B. Sriramulu, staged protests in Ballari, accusing the state government of negligence and failing to address the issue adequately.

Last month, four women died in Ballari, with the fifth death reported Thursday night at the Ballari Medical College and Research Centre (BMCRC). The government had previously announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each victim's family after a high-level meeting chaired by the CM on November 30.