Reports have shed light on a distressing increase in the mortality rates of newborns and mothers at Gandhi Hospital, one of Telangana’s premier medical facilities.
Over the course of just one month, August 2024, the hospital recorded the deaths of 48 infants and 14 pregnant women, sparking widespread concern and calls for accountability.
The figures, which have been officially acknowledged, reveal a significant lapse in healthcare standards or possibly an overwhelmed system.
Public Outcry and Political Criticism
The issue has quickly escalated into a political controversy, with leaders from various parties accusing the current administration of negligence.
K.T. Rama Rao of BRS criticized the government’s handling of healthcare, questioning the value placed on the lives of infants and mothers.
Government and Hospital Response
Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha responded that patients already in critical state are often admitted to the hospital, and related deaths cannot be attributed to government failure.
Meanwhile, preliminary responses from hospital officials suggest that the situation might be more complex than simple negligence.
Factors such as understaffing, lack of resources, and systemic issues within the healthcare delivery system have reportedly resulted in these fatalities.