Year Ender: 8,530 people died in Telangana hospitals this year

Hyderabad: Government and private hospitals across Telangana recorded 8,530 deaths of patients until December 15 this year. Warangal Urban district topped the list followed by Khammam and Karimnagar, said latest official figures.

According to the state government's portal on birth and death in Telangana, 7,420 people died at government hospitals, while 1,110 deaths were reported from private hospitals. Narayanpet district got a rare distinction with zero rates of fatalities. The state began recording births and deaths from January 1, 2019, onwards.

Doctors attribute last-minute rush as the main reason for deaths at government hospitals.

"Almost all the private hospitals charge heavily for treatment of the patients and leave them in the lurch in times of alarming situation. Family of the patient in a helpless state immediately rush to the government hospital. The last-minute treatment is the prime reason why several deaths are high at government hospitals," observes a senior medical official.

Another worrying factor for hospital deaths was power outage, according to a few social activists.

The state had constituted a three-member committee to look into the allegations of electricity failure as it maintained that power outage was not a reason for the deaths of patients.

A social activist said, "A power outage took place on July 22 owing to maintenance works taken up by the discoms. The number of deaths at government hospitals in July alone was over 21. Who's responsible for this?" questioned the activist.

Reacting to the deaths, the National Human Rights Commission had served a notice on the state government. "The generators at the hospitals were not functioning and not used during the power outage. The problem is causing a life-and-death question the patients, particularly during operations," added the activist.