Even as the Karnataka government steps up efforts to reduce the maternal mortality rate (MMR) through better staffing and healthcare access, the underperformance of primary and community health centres continues to be a major concern across the state.
PHCs and CHCs lag in delivery performance
Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) are the first points of contact for expecting mothers in rural areas. However, recent government data paints a worrying picture of their performance. Out of 880 PHCs operating round the clock, 162 centres recorded zero deliveries in the past year.
Similarly, 275 CHCs contributed to only 6% of total deliveries in public health facilities. Of these, just 42 CHCs met the government’s benchmark of over 30 deliveries per month, while 233 centres were classified as underperforming.
For PHCs, the benchmark is set at an average of 10 deliveries per month, but 130 PHCs recorded only one delivery per month, and just 279 centres managed to register more than six deliveries.
Lack of motivation and training among staff
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao attributed the low performance of these centres to both human resource gaps and a lack of motivation.
“Doctors might not be interested or proactive, while nurses in those centres may not have the capabilities to perform deliveries. This is why we are redeploying staff from underperforming centres to high-performing centres where they will have a lot of work. When provided with better facilities, they can perform better,” Rao said on Monday.
While CHCs are equipped with obstetricians and anaesthetists capable of performing C-sections, PHCs are typically staffed by general duty medical officers (GDMOs) and nurses who handle normal deliveries.
Government approval for rationalisation
To address the issue, the state government has approved a rationalisation plan for healthcare human resources. Under this initiative, maternal and child health (MCH) specialists from low-performing CHCs will be redeployed to taluk hospitals and high-performing CHCs.
Highlighting a success story, Rao cited the Rajankollur PHC in Yadgir, which consistently records more than 100 deliveries every month with just one GDMO and a few nurses.
“This rationalisation is not just a temporary measure—it’s a step toward optimising manpower where it is needed most,” he said.
Learning from Tamil Nadu’s model
According to Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary of the Health Department, Karnataka has drawn lessons from Tamil Nadu, which has successfully implemented a similar rationalisation policy for four years.
“All over India, we have a trend where patients, especially those with complications, prefer hospitals with more doctors. By redistributing our workforce, we can ensure assured services and consistent care,” Gupta said.
Maternal mortality rate shows improvement
The government’s efforts appear to be showing early results. Karnataka’s maternal mortality rate dropped by 24% in the first ten months of 2025. The state recorded 366 maternal deaths between January and October, compared to 483 deaths during the same period last year.
“This rationalisation process will help us bring this number down even further,” Rao stated.
More specialist positions to strengthen care
To further enhance healthcare infrastructure, the state is creating 125 new super specialist posts — including cardiologists, nephrologists, and neurologists — across 15 district hospitals. These specialists will focus on reducing pregnancy-related complications and improving access to advanced care for women and infants.
As Karnataka moves ahead with redeploying and strengthening its healthcare workforce, officials remain hopeful that these reforms will significantly improve maternal health outcomes and set a model for other states.