Series of maternal deaths triggers concerns in Karnataka

The death of four mothers after delivery in the State-run district hospital attached to the Ballari Medical College and Research Centre in Ballari of Karnataka has raised concerns as the State’s maternal and infant mortality rate is considerably low. An experts committee from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, which probed the deaths, had concluded that the four women developed complications and died after they were administered a substandard ringer lactate solution — an intravenous fluid that doctors commonly use to restore hydration and fluid balance in the body. The Chief Minister has also directed officials to blacklist Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Ltd. which supplied the substandard ringer lactate solution to Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd.. The Chief Minister has also announced that an expert committee headed by the Development Commissioner would be set up to investigate if any maternal deaths occurred in other hospitals in the State where the ringer lactate solution supplied by the company had been used. Batch of ringer lactate solution withdrawn Currently, batch 26.2.9 of the ringer lactate solution in question has been withdrawn from usage at all levels of healthcare across the State by KSMSCL, and the ringer lactate fluids supplied to the Ballari district hospital have been sent for testing.