Hyderabad: The recent death of a 20-year-old mother and her newborn at a primary healthcare centre (PHC) in Bhadradri Kothagudem district has raised serious concerns over the shortage of staff plaguing such facilities in Telangana. The incident occurred on June 13 when K Vanaja was taken to the Gundala PHC for delivery. Her family, in a complaint filed with the district medical health officer (DMHO), alleged that she bled to death due to medical negligence, as the facility lacked trained medical staff, particularly nurses, on duty.
DMHO Denies Negligence
While DMHO Dr Tularam Rathod confirmed the deaths, he refuted charges of negligence. Instead, he claimed that the delivery had to be handled by an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) rather than the doctor on duty due to “resistance from local residents to male staff conducting deliveries.”
“It is true that the lone woman nurse was on medical leave. While the male nurse had also finished his shift for the day, we could have arranged for him to be available if the family was comfortable with it. Since they weren’t, a senior ANM who had previously conducted deliveries proceeded with the delivery,” said the DMHO.
Staff Shortage at PHC
The PHC has only two nurses against a sanctioned strength of four and only one doctor. “By the time the woman was brought to the PHC, she was already fully dilated. There was no time to refer her elsewhere,” said Dr Rathod, adding that complications arose thereafter.
He stated that the baby weighed about 3.2 kg, leading to an obstructed delivery and a perineal tear, resulting in heavy blood loss. Vanaja was shifted to the government hospital in Khammam after developing complications, while the newborn was taken to Yellandu hospital. Both later died—Vanaja due to excessive bleeding following delivery and the infant after slipping into an unconscious state.
“The doctor from Gundala PHC accompanied the mother and newborn during their transfer to higher medical facilities. There was no negligence. The gynaecologist at Yellandu provided necessary treatment to Vanaja but referred her to Khammam hospital as her condition was serious,” he maintained.
Official Data on Vacancies
The DMHO said he has requested the collector to depute nurses to Gundala PHC, as the facility is located in a remote area and requires additional staff. According to official data, 689 nursing posts of the 5,281 sanctioned and 460 doctor posts out of the 2,541 sanctioned positions in primary healthcare facilities across Telangana remain vacant.
TGHRC Issues Notice
Meanwhile, the Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and issued a notice to the DMHO of Bhadradri Kothagudem, directing him to submit a report by July 13.
