Is there an increase in the number of infant and maternal deaths at Hyderabad Gandhi hospital? Amid a news platform's report and BRS' criticism, here's a look at the actual numbers and the reasons behind them.
Published Sep 19, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 26, 2024 | 2:34 PM
Representative image (iStock)
A controversy erupted on Wednesday, 18 September, over the number of infant and maternal deaths at Hyderabad’s Gandhi Hospital.
A Telugu news platform, Telugu Scribe, reported that the hospital had recorded 48 infant deaths and 14 maternal deaths in August 2024 alone.
The news platform linked these fatalities to the Telangana government’s decision to halt the KCR Kit and KCR Nutrition Kit schemes, which were supporting pregnant women in the past.
Former minister and BRS working president KT Rama Rao reacted strongly to the report and criticised the Congress regime.
Expressing shock at the reported numbers, he asked, “48 newborns and 14 mothers—just imagining it sends shivers down the spine. Is there a government in this state? Are the systems functioning? Who is responsible for this tragedy at the Gandhi Hospital, which has saved so many lives in the past? Don’t those newborns’ lives have any value? Isn’t there any answer to the grief of those mothers?”
Further slamming the government, he said, “If the government is not at fault, why is it hiding these numbers? Why is it afraid? Will the cries of those mothers and babies not haunt you? If there are so many deaths in just one hospital like Gandhi Hospital, it is frightening to think about the state of affairs across the entire state.”
Rao also highlighted the significance of KCR-initiated programmes. “Nutrition kits for pregnant women, KCR kits after delivery, and prioritising normal deliveries over cesareans were established by KCR as part of his responsibility as a leader. That’s how a ruler should care for his people. But what is our ‘cheap’ minister doing? Leaving governance to the wind and indulging in propaganda and statue politics—this is the result,” he said.
48 మంది పసి గుడ్డులు… 14 మంది బాలింత తల్లులు… ఊహించుకుంటేనే ఒళ్లు జలదరిస్తోంది. ఈ రాష్ట్రంలో ప్రభుత్వం ఉందా? వ్యవస్థలు పనిచేస్తున్నాయా…?
ఎంతో మందికి ప్రాణం పోసిన గాంధీ ఆసుపత్రిలో ఇంత విషాదం ఎవరి పాపం? ఆ పసిబిడ్డల ప్రాణాలకు విలువ లేదా? ఆ తల్లుల గర్భశోకానికి… pic.twitter.com/LsfBfLXbmL
— KTR (@KTRBRS) September 18, 2024
Telangana’s Health Department issued a clarification about the situation at the Gandhi Hospital: There have been 41 pediatric deaths and 13 maternal deaths at the hospital in August.
For better understanding, during the 2022-2023 financial year, Gandhi Hospital recorded 84 maternal deaths and 416 pediatric deaths. The numbers increased in 2023-2024 to 108 maternal and 430 pediatric deaths.
In the current fiscal year (2024-2025), the hospital has reported 68 maternal deaths and 241 pediatric deaths.
“Every life lost is a sad outcome. Fatality during delivery is an unbearable tragedy. But BRS party, KTR garu are okay to politicise it, sadly! The worst health performance in over a decade – sadly is their own. Maximum deaths at #Gandhi #Hospital during BRS reign,” said Sriram Karri, Director at Government of Telangana.
Every life lost is a sad outcome. Fatality during delivery is an unbearable tragedy. But @BRSparty @KTRBRS garu are okay to politicising it, sadly! The worst health performance in over a decade – sadly is their own. Maximum deaths at #Gandhi #Hospital during BRS reign. pic.twitter.com/LCG3VKX5YN
— Sriram Karri (@oratorgreat) September 18, 2024
The Health Department explained that Gandhi Hospital, as the apex hospital with super-specialty services, serves as a last resort for highly complicated cases referred from across the state. Many patients arrive at the hospital in serious conditions, sometimes requiring mechanical ventilation.
They added that there is no unusual spike in maternal deaths this year and that the number of deaths in August is consistent with previous years.
Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha expressed his dismay at the criticism directed at Gandhi Hospital, emphasising that it affects the morale of patients seeking treatment. He pointed out that during the previous government’s tenure, corporate hospitals flourished at the expense of government hospitals.
“The BRS, which spent a decade undermining government hospitals like Gandhi and Osmania, is now, even as the Opposition, is engaging in similar conspiracies. It is shameful. Hospitals like Gandhi handle the most critical patients. Doctors make every effort to treat these patients and save their lives until the very last moment. Due to the severity of their conditions, some patients unfortunately do not survive. This is why many tertiary care hospitals across the country experience numerous deaths every month,” he explained.
Narasimha also criticised KT Rama Rao (KTR), the BRS working president, accusing him of attempting to mislead the public by focusing on death statistics since the Congress government took office. He accused KTR of conspiring to undermine Gandhi Hospital and benefit corporate hospitals.
“The Gandhi Hospital is not just for the elite, it is for my people. I was born in the old Gandhi Hospital myself. Taking care of my people’s welfare is my responsibility. Do not be afraid or believe BRS’ conspiracy theories. Come with courage and receive treatment. We are restoring the medical system that BRS had damaged and providing all necessary facilities,” the health minister stated.
A doctor from Gandhi Hospital told South First, “Gandhi Hospital, being a major tertiary care center, frequently receives patients with severe and complex health issues requiring advanced medical intervention. These patients often arrive at the hospital only after reaching critical stages of their illnesses, leading to a higher mortality rate. The hospital’s reputation for handling complicated cases attracts patients who may have already exhausted other healthcare options, often arriving too late for effective treatment.”
The doctor further explained, “Most patients coming here have previously visited smaller hospitals or nursing homes in towns with limited infrastructure and resources. These smaller facilities often refer critical cases to hospitals like Gandhi or Osmania in Hyderabad. As a teaching hospital, we are the last resort for these families. Therefore, the mortality rate at tertiary care centers like Gandhi and Osmania will naturally be higher compared to other health institutions in the state. This does not mean we are unable to provide adequate care.”
However, there are challenges, such as long waiting times for surgeries, particularly in obstetrics, where delays can have tragic consequences for mothers and infants due to the high volume of patients seeking care.
The doctor also clarified, “The allegations regarding the halting of the KCR Kit are false. The government has renamed it MCH Kit, which continues to be provided to pregnant women and those who have recently delivered.”
Speaking to South First, Dr. Kiran Kumar, a member of the Telangana State Medical Council, said, “Gandhi Hospital, as an apex facility with super-specialty services, acts as a last resort for highly complicated cases referred from across the state. Many of these cases arrive in advanced stages, sometimes requiring mechanical ventilation.”
Cautioning against using the term ‘doctor negligence,’ casually, he said, “It should be used cautiously while discussing reputed hospitals in the state, as it undermines the morale of service-oriented government doctors. Tertiary care hospitals often handle complex cases from peripheral areas at their most critical stages. While deaths do occur, attributing them solely to negligence is not fair.”
Dr. Brahmeshwar Koyyadi added, “At Gandhi Hospital, nearly all the cases treated are severe and complex. Many patients are brought in when their families have lost hope. Some are brought merely to ensure that death does not occur at home, demonstrating the limited options available to them.”
A study titled “Care Practices and Neonatal Survival in 52 Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India” provides a thorough analysis of neonatal care across various healthcare facilities. Researchers evaluated care practices, causes of admission, and neonatal outcomes in public secondary hospitals, private tertiary hospitals, public medical colleges, and private medical colleges.
Neonatal mortality rates varied significantly among these hospitals. Public medical colleges and hospitals had the highest mortality rate, with 15 percent of neonates dying within 28 days of admission. In contrast, private medical colleges had a mortality rate as low as two percent.
This disparity is likely due to a combination of factors, including staffing shortages, differences in care practices, and the severity of cases referred to each type of hospital. Public medical colleges, which typically handle the most critical cases, had a mortality rate of nine percentage, while private tertiary hospitals reported a rate of four percent.
Private facilities often referred neonates to public hospitals due to insufficient specialised care, a desire to minimise newborn deaths in their records, or because families request referrals when unable to bear the high costs.
The study noted that case-fatality rates at 28 days post-admission were 4, 15, 4 and 2 percentage respectively for public secondary hospitals, public medical colleges, private tertiary hospitals and private medical colleges.
It also included post-discharge telephone interviews to assess neonatal outcomes after leaving the hospital. These interviews revealed that the case-fatality rate was higher than recorded in hospital registers, particularly for neonates discharged against medical advice.
The mortality rate for neonates discharged against medical advice was 36.6 percent, highlighting significant gaps in follow-up care and patient education, especially in public facilities.
Private hospitals generally had better staff ratio and adherence to practices like auscultation compared to public hospitals. The most common reasons for NICU admissions were preterm births (25 percent) and jaundice (23 percent). About six percent of admitted neonates were referred to other facilities, indicating potential gaps in care provision.
(Edited by Neena)
