Gangavathi: The surging maternal mortality rate at Ballari district hospital prompted numerous pregnant women to seek medical care at Gangavathi’s 60-bed govt sub-division hospital.
The situation at BIMS led to widespread hesitation among pregnant women regarding govt hospitals in Ballari. With private healthcare costs prohibitive for most, the Gangavathi sub-divisional hospital presents an accessible alternative for safe childbirth.
The facility earned significant trust, successfully managing 4,790 natural births and 1,000 caesarean sections last year, without any maternal casualties. The hospital now attracts expectant mothers not only from Ballari but also from neighbouring Raichur, Bagalkot, and Vijayanagara districts. “The number of women coming to our 60-bed govt taluk hospital for delivery is increasing day by day,” notes Dr Ishwar Savadi, the chief medical officer.
According to Dr Savadi, this increased patronage stems from their proven safety record. “People believe that women who come to give birth here experience safe and normal deliveries. This belief is supported by our statistics,” he states.
According to district health officer Dr Lingaraj T, the Gangavathi sub-division hospital is recognised as the safest option for deliveries due to its outstanding services and infrastructure. In Oct, the hospital successfully handled 511 deliveries, on par with those of medical college hospitals. Therefore, a proposal has been made to the govt to approve the addition of one anaesthesiologist and one gynaecologist there.
Each day, the sub-division hospital serves hundreds of women during childbirths, delivering extensive care facilities. Its commitment to excellence has been recognised at the national level, as evidenced by winning the ‘Kayakalpa’ award for best medical centre three times: in 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2022-23.
Dr Ishwar Savadi credits this preference to the proficiency and dependable care offered by his team. He states, “We have shown that govt hospitals can deliver outstanding services. Other healthcare facilities can implement our model, enabling patients to seek care at any institution without apprehension.”
