The Karnataka government has formed a new committee to investigate the recent deaths of five midwives at the Bellary District Hospital (BIMS), which have sparked widespread public outrage. However, the earlier committee formed to probe the deaths has already submitted its report to the government. However, the contents of this report remain confidential, leading to criticism and protests from opposition parties.
Opposition Leader R. Ashok criticised the Government’s handling of the issue, questioning the investigation’s secrecy. He tweeted, “Five midwives have died in the last 10 days at the Bellary District and BIMS Hospitals. The Karnataka government has kept the report of the expert team investigating this matter confidential, which has raised several doubts.”
Ashok also pointed to a circular the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation issued on November 16, which warned against using Ringer Lactate Infusion medicine supplied by a private company. He raised concerns about a possible connection between this medicine and the deaths, asking, “Is there any connection between the deaths of pregnant women in Bellary and this circular? Who is responsible for supplying and using this poor-quality medicine? Who is the government protecting by hiding the report?”
Further criticising the government’s response, Ashok pointed out the lack of action from key political leaders. “Despite this shocking incident that has disturbed the entire state, neither Chief Minister Siddaramaiah nor Deputy CM DK Shivakumar have taken any action, nor have they expressed their condolences. Moreover, the Minister in charge of Bellary, Zameer Ahmed Khan, has not even visited the district so far.”
Ashok demanded accountability from the state’s health officials, urging the resignation of Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, as a moral responsibility for the incident. He also called for an impartial investigation and legal action against those responsible.
This series of deaths at Bellary District Hospital has raised alarms about the quality of healthcare and medicine being provided in the state, and the political fallout continues as public and opposition pressures mount on the government for transparency and accountability.
Poor quality glucose supplied by KSMSCL
The tragic deaths of pregnant women at the Bellary District Hospital have now escalated into a broader public health crisis, with serious allegations of corruption and negligence in the procurement of essential medical supplies. The deaths of four pregnant women who underwent cesarean sections have raised suspicions that poor-quality intravenous (IV) fluids, specifically glucose, may have been the cause. Authorities are now questioning whether this issue extends beyond Bellary and poses a statewide threat, as the same IV fluids were supplied to other hospitals across Karnataka by the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation (KSMSCL).
The deaths occurred after the women were administered IV fluids containing glucose, which KSMSCL supplied. According to a detailed investigation report, the IV fluids provided by the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation were of substandard quality, leading to serious complications after their use in cesarean deliveries. The tragic sequence of events began on November 9, when over 10 women underwent cesarean sections at the Bellary District Hospital. Following their deliveries, all were administered glucose, after which their conditions rapidly deteriorated. Nandini and Lalitamma, two midwives involved in the deliveries, tragically passed away. Within a week, two more midwives, Rojamma Muskan, also died.
The investigation points to the poor quality of the glucose IV solution as the primary cause of these sudden deaths. KSMSCL is now facing serious scrutiny over its role in this tragic incident. It has come to light that the glucose solution administered to the women was purchased from a private medical supply company based in West Bengal. Alarmingly, this same company had been blacklisted in the past for supplying faulty and substandard medical products. Reports have emerged that several patients in Tumkur had died after using the same brand of glucose solution in previous years. There is now mounting suspicion that the Bellary midwives may have also died from the same toxic batch of medicine.
A special investigation team was formed to look into the deaths at Bellary Hospital, comprising Dr C. Savita, Dr B. Bhaskar, and Dr T. R. Harsha. Their findings have been submitted to the state government, which has taken immediate action. According to the investigation report, the IV glucose used during cesarean sections was the direct cause of the deaths. The team has confirmed that the intravenous (IV) solution was of poor quality, and the adverse effects from this substandard medicine led to the sudden and tragic deaths.
What is IV Glucose?
IV glucose is a commonly used solution administered to patients intravenously to provide fluids, maintain electrolytes, and regulate sugar levels. The solution typically contains water, glucose (sugar), and essential electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, and chloride. It is commonly used to treat patients suffering from dehydration, maintain hydration levels, and stabilise bodily functions during surgery, illness, or recovery. In this case, the glucose IV solution was intended to stabilise the women after childbirth but instead contributed to a series of fatalities.
The disturbing findings have prompted the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation to issue a statewide directive halting the use of this particular glucose solution. A letter has been sent to all District Health Officers (DHOs) across the state, warning them to avoid using this substandard IV fluid until further notice. Health authorities have been instructed to conduct thorough checks on other medical supplies sourced from the same supplier.
The controversy surrounding this issue has snowballed into a wider investigation into government corruption in medical procurement. Questions are being raised about the lack of oversight in the procurement process, and allegations of kickbacks or unethical deals involving medical supply contracts have started to surface. Despite the gravity of the situation, the state government’s response has been underwhelming. There has been no immediate accountability from the Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao or the Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, who were pressured to resign after the scandal.
Public outcry is continuing to build as citizens demand justice for the victims and reforms to prevent further deaths. Local health activists have called to overhaul the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation and its purchasing policies. They also urge the government to prioritise quality control and ensure that medical products used in government hospitals meet the highest standards.
This incident has raised critical questions about the role of private medical supply companies in the state’s healthcare system and the need for stricter regulations and transparency in government procurement. As the investigation continues, the public and opposition parties push for accountability while health officials scramble to prevent further tragedies linked to the same supplier.
The deaths of these pregnant women have sent shockwaves across the state, and the issue of corruption in the government’s medical procurement process is now a matter of urgent concern.
