Karnataka Budget 2025-26: Budget proposes to reduce preventable maternal mortality rate to zero

Following lessons learnt from the recent Ballari maternal deaths, it has been proposed in the State Budget to take up a ₹320-crore project on a mission mode to reduce preventable maternal mortality to zero.

Following lessons learnt from the recent Ballari maternal deaths, it has been proposed in the State Budget to take up a ₹320-crore project on a mission mode to reduce preventable maternal mortality to zero.

Announcing this on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said under the programme, obstetric services will be strengthened across. Hospitals will be equipped with all necessary facilities to treat and prevent severe postpartum haemorrhage by leveraging novel digital technology, he said.

The five maternal deaths in the district hospital in Ballari in November and December last year, following caesarean section deliveries, were a wake-up call for the State health authorities. The Health Department is now getting all maternal deaths audited by the State Technical Expert Committee. This committee’s recommendations will be submitted to the State Empowered Committee and programmes to reduce maternal mortality will be formulated based on the empowered committee’s directives, the Chief Minister said.

Besides, to prevent anaemia among pregnant women, nutrition kits, financial incentives, and Vatsalya kits for mothers will be distributed in backward districts. Mother and Child Health (MCH) specialists will be deputed in every taluk hospital through re-deployment of posts.

While the overall allocation for the health sector remains the same as last year at 4% (₹17,473) of the total Budget, the Chief Minister announced that a Kalyana Karnataka Comprehensive Health Scheme will be launched with a ₹873-crore budget to improve healthcare services in the region.

Under this allocation, a pilot programme to diagnose rare metabolic disorders in the prenatal babies and infants at a cost of ₹10 crore and a vaccination programme to administer human papillomavirus (HPV) to 14-year-old girls in 20 mining-affected taluks in the region at a cost of ₹9 crore will be taken up.

The Budget also proposed to extend the Gruha Arogya scheme to screen and treat six non-communicable diseases currently being implemented in Kolar district across the State at a cost of ₹100 crore and a ₹50 crore programme to control communicable diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, and Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD).