Ballari maternal deaths: Govt panel to probe medical supplies procurement

Bengaluru: Following a series of maternal deaths in Ballari, the Health and Family Welfare Department has formed a committee to look into lapses in procurement at the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL). 

The committee, headed by the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, will bring about basic system reforms in the existing procedures of KSMSCL, according to a government order dated December 4. 

A verification team will be formed under an IAS officer to prepare a detailed report on violations of rules and regulations by the KSMSCL officers and to hold them accountable for the alleged violations of guidelines, noted the order. 

At least five maternal deaths have been reported in the past month at the Ballari Medical College and Research Centre. Taking a serious view of the matter, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had ordered suspension of Karnataka Drugs Controller Umesh S. 

On Sunday, the chief minister also announced a Rs 5-lakh compensation to the next of kin of the deceased women. 

The verification team will look into lapses in procurement of medicines and violations in testing done at empanelled laboratories. It will then prepare a detailed report by identifying loopholes in the existing system. 

The verification team will be headed by M Kanagavalli, Managing Director of Karnataka Skill Development Corporation, and will include Venkatesh, Assistant Drugs Controller from the Drugs Control Department; Asima Banu, Microbiologist, Bangalore Medical College and Research Centre, and a senior pharmacology professor nominated by the vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. 

The verification team will also inquire into the role of all officers at KSMSCL to fix responsibilities for the lapses. 

The existing procedures of KSMSCL need to be verified and gaps, as compared to standard practices, are to be identified with regard to the process of empanelment of labs, testing of samples, discarding of batches or entire supply based on quality reports, and the compliance of standard procedures, according to the order. 

The government has given a deadline of five days from December 4 to submit the detailed report.