Bhopal strengthens maternal care and elderly support with new health reforms

Bhopal's health department has rolled out new measures to improve maternal, neonatal, and elderly care. District Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh issued directives to strengthen infection control in hospitals and expand home-based healthcare for the elderly. The changes also include stricter monitoring of pregnancy-related complications and neonatal deaths.

Under the new guidelines, hospitals must adopt an infection control checklist for operation theatres and labour rooms. Officials have also proposed using AI-based technology to reduce human error in these areas. While no recent data confirms how many hospitals already use such systems, the push aims to enhance safety in critical care settings.

The health department will now gather feedback from vaccination beneficiaries to assess awareness levels. Efforts to boost antenatal care (ANC) registration are underway, with a focus on identifying high-risk pregnancies early. These women will receive timely referrals to ensure safer deliveries.

Death audits will now cover complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, every fatality in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) must be reviewed to pinpoint causes and prevent future losses. The goal is to cut neonatal mortality through better management.

For elderly care, the HOPE programme has identified 902 seniors for home-based support. Health workers will visit seriously ill patients on the 7th, 14th, and 21st day of their illness. So far, nursing officers have assisted 560 elderly individuals under this initiative.

The new protocols target key gaps in Bhopal's healthcare system. Hospitals will tighten infection controls, while home visits for the elderly and stricter pregnancy monitoring aim to reduce preventable deaths. Authorities will track progress through feedback and audit reports in the coming months.