Upgraded PHCs to have docs round-the-clock to attend deliveries

The directorate of public health has issued guidelines for the same directing the obstetrician to be compulsorily present at the labour wards at district headquarters, government hospitals and upgraded primary health centres.

“The doctors have been issued guidelines to be present round-the-clock for attending deliveries. Around 1,000 primary health centres have been upgraded to attend to delivery cases 24 hours a day For emergency cases at non-upgraded primary health centres, the nearest available doctor will be available on call to attend the delivery case,” said Public Health Director Dr K Kolandaisamy. All deliveries undertaken at a PHC would be recorded and monitored for the presence of a doctor. “This was not a protocol earlier and nurses would attend to these cases, however, now doctors will be attending the delivery cases after the shift hours,” addedDr Kolandaisamy.

Meanwhile, the members of the Doctors Association of Tamil Nadu said that the doctor patient ratio is relatively low and state Health Department should also ponder on the need of regular staff at the PHCs.

At Koovathur PHC, the head of a baby got separated from the torso after a midwife and a nurse attempted a vaginal delivery suspecting intrauterine death. The family members alleged that the medical staff should have not performed the surgery in case they suspectedcomplications.