Hyderabad: BRS Forms Committee to Investigate Maternal and Infant Deaths at Gandhi Hospital
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) announced the formation of a three-member committee tasked with investigating the alarming rates of infant and maternal deaths at Gandhi Hospital. The committee includes former Telangana Health Minister T Rajaiah, former MLA Dr. Methuku Anand, and current MLA Dr. Sanjay.
KTR criticized the Congress government, alleging that their attempts to obstruct the fact-finding mission are a direct affront to transparency and accountability. He expressed concern over the government’s alleged reluctance to disclose the underlying causes of these deaths, stating, “The people deserve answers.”
The newly formed committee aims to assess the current healthcare status in Telangana and provide recommendations for improvement. KTR emphasized the importance of the committee’s findings, questioning whether the Congress government is fearful of accountability for its “catastrophic failure” in managing healthcare.
He assured that the BRS would continue its efforts until the truth is unveiled, regardless of the opposition from Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the Congress party.
Data on Deaths at Gandhi Hospital
Recent data regarding infant and maternal fatalities at Gandhi Hospital has raised significant concerns. Reports indicate that there have been 241 infant deaths so far in the current financial year (2024-25), a decrease from 430 in the previous year (2023-24). Notably, 48 pediatric deaths were recorded in August alone. The hospital has also reported 68 maternal deaths this year, down from 108 last year.
However, the official health department data presents a different picture, claiming only 52 infant deaths this year, compared to 84 in the previous year. The government’s figures indicate just 9 infant deaths in August.
In response to these troubling statistics, Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha sought to reassure the public, affirming that medical professionals are doing everything possible to save lives. He acknowledged, however, that some fatalities are unfortunately unavoidable in tertiary care settings, stating, “This is a reality in such facilities everywhere.”
Minister Narasimha also called for comprehensive health audits to investigate the root causes of these tragic incidents, underscoring the need to address systemic issues within the healthcare sector to prevent future occurrences.
