Karnataka government mandates blood bank tie-ups, on-site doctors for maternity hosps

Bengaluru: In a bid to plug critical gaps in maternal and newborn healthcare, the state govt has directed all public health institutions providing delivery care to ensure uninterrupted availability of blood and blood products, mandating advance tie-ups with nearby blood banks to prevent delays during emergencies.The govt issued an order Thursday following findings from a recent maternal death audit report that flagged systemic and administrative shortcomings in the delivery of maternal and newborn care.The order directs hospitals to enter into prior agreements with at least two to three govt or licensed private blood banks and put in place systems for immediate procurement and transport during emergencies. The order also reiterates that 25% of blood collected in donation camps must be supplied to govt facilities, with district health officials tasked with ensuring compliance.To strengthen round-the-clock emergency care, the govt has also made it mandatory for all specialist doctors to reside at their designated headquarters instead of commuting from distant locations, which could cause delays in care. The order states that if complaints are raised about specialists not being at their designated headquarters, then such specialists will be required to log their attendance twice a day — at 10am and 10pm.The order bars the deputation of gynaecologists from hospitals where only one specialist is available. "Such doctors must not be assigned to laparoscopic tubectomy operation (LTO) camps or other surgical programmes, ensuring uninterrupted maternal and emergency obstetric care," the order said.The govt has also reiterated its earlier order on the compulsory use of the ARC partograph system — a digital tool that tracks labour in real time to flag complications early — for all deliveries in public hospitals. "Non-compliance will be treated as serious negligence and may lead to withholding incentives," the order warned.