Govt not protecting anybody: Min on SIT probe demand into maternal deaths

DESPITE acknowledging the systemic failures linked to maternal deaths at Ballari District Hospital, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stopped short of committing to an SIT or judicial probe, as demanded by BJP members in the Council to probe the matter.

- PRAMODKUMAR VAIDYA @Belagavi

He stressed that the government is not attempting to cover up the issue or shirk its responsibilities, but is determined to implement reforms to improve the healthcare system.

Giving a statement about the deaths of the five mothers in Ballari, on Tuesday, Dinesh said the administration anticipated that the IV fluid Ringer's lactate, supplied by West Bengal-based Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals, was responsible for a series of deaths. In fact, faults were found with the fluid months ago, while a particular batch of it was freezed in March itself, but was un-freezed due to demand in the wake of dengue cases in August.