The Karnataka government has approved a proposal to improve maternal health outcomes by purchasing essential equipment for blood storage units across the state. This initiative aims to combat maternal mortality, particularly due to obstetric hemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal deaths.
The plan focuses on improving the availability of Cryoprecipitate and Fresh Frozen Plasma, which are crucial in preventing obstetric hemorrhage. Initially, the equipment will be installed in 50 hospitals, especially in first referral units across North Karnataka, where blood storage facilities are currently lacking.
Following Karnataka’s Transparency in Public Procurement rules, the government has directed the concerned department to procure the necessary equipment for the blood storage units. To enhance blood storage and transfusion services, the government has allocated funds from Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd (KSMSCL) for the purchase of 147 deep freezers, each priced at Rs 4.5 lakh, and 147 plasma thawing baths (including cryobaths) at Rs 2.2 lakh per unit.
In 2023, Karnataka recorded 518 maternal deaths, with 20% attributed to obstetric hemorrhage. Despite ongoing national health campaigns to reduce maternal deaths, many women, especially from North Karnataka, continue to face critical health risks due to anemia and a lack of timely blood transfusions. This new initiative is expected to significantly improve maternal healthcare and reduce fatalities linked to obstetric complications.
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