Mission Zero to curb maternal deaths in Karnataka

BENGALURU: Intending to reduce maternal deaths, the state government has launched Mission Zero, under which a slew of new interventions will be undertaken, said Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Pointing out that though Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is better than the national average, Rao said that the state needs improvement when compared to neighbouring states. He said that Karnataka has witnessed a 24% reduction in maternal deaths compared to 2024, and as part of the new intervention, all the 147 taluk hospitals and Community Health Centres (CHC) from now on will have an obstetrician, anaesthetist, and a paediatrician round the clock. He added, Compared to the maternal deaths in 2024 (from January till October), which were 483, there were 366 deaths in 2025 for the same period. Under the mission, new interventions are being implemented focusing on improving the quality, safety, and timeliness. These interventions are being implemented from community outreach and antenatal services to intrapartum and postnatal management, adding that among the new interventions being implemented are rationalisation of the existing human resources aimed at further strengthening Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services. The November 7 government order focuses on the rationalisation and deployment of key MCH specialists ensuring that every taluk hospital and CHC can provide round-the-clock emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC). All 147 taluk hospitals and 42 well-performing CHCs are being strengthened as CEmONC centres. These centres will have two specialists each of obstetrics, anaesthesia, and paediatrics, plus a radiologist and a physician. Low-performing CHCs will focus on Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) managing normal deliveries and first-line emergencies, Rao said, adding that remote areas like Male Mahadeshwara Hills will continue as full CEmONC facilities due to their hard-to-reach area and distance from other First Referral Unit. Rao said that specialists from 200 low-performing CHCs will be redeployed to higher-load facilities and that 404 Medical Officers will be mobilised from the existing sanctioned posts of state programmes, such as health extension centres and NHM programs. Nurses from underperforming 247 Primary Health Centres (PHC) will be shifted to strengthen delivery points. An additional 104 Radiologists and 23 Physicians posts are created, he said. He said that to provide advanced care and manage complications, 125 super-specialist posts are being created under the Compulsory Medical Service Scheme in 15 hospitals. He said that CHCs with more than 30 deliveries per month would be upgraded and be eligible for additional specialists.