Karnataka Government Launches Ultrasonography Training for MBBS Doctors
Enhancing Maternal and Child Health Services
The Karnataka government is taking significant steps to enhance maternal and child health services by introducing a six-month ultrasonography training program for in-service MBBS doctors within the State Health Department. This initiative aims to bolster diagnostic capabilities at district and taluk-level hospitals, where access to imaging facilities is currently inadequate.
Addressing the Shortage of Radiologists
The decision to implement this training program comes in response to a critical shortage of radiologists, which has adversely affected timely antenatal and postnatal care, especially in peripheral government hospitals. To mitigate this issue, the state has approved the establishment of 114 new radiologist positions. Presently, only 75 radiologists are available across 189 public health facilities, including 148 taluk hospitals and 41 community health centers (CHCs).
Compliance with Legal Framework
According to reports from The Hindu, the ultrasonography training will adhere strictly to the PC & PNDT Act and the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Training) Rules, 2014. The program is designed to equip trained MBBS doctors with the skills necessary to perform maternal diagnostics in facilities lacking radiologists, all while remaining compliant with legal regulations.
Training Centers Across Karnataka
The government has designated 11 hospitals throughout Karnataka as training centers. Notable institutions include K.C. General Hospital and Jayanagar General Hospital in Bengaluru, Lady Goschen Hospital and Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru, Chigateri District Hospital in Davanagere, and district hospitals in Chikkaballapur, Dharwad, Tumakuru, Vijayapura, Ballari, Kolar, and Bagalkot.
Program Structure and Eligibility
Under this initiative, 69 in-service MBBS doctors will receive training from 23 faculty members, ensuring a teacher-student ratio of 1:3. Only those doctors currently employed in government service will be eligible for participation. Graduates of the program will be required to provide ultrasonography services exclusively in government hospitals, thereby directly benefiting public healthcare facilities from their enhanced skills.
Ensuring Continuity of Healthcare Services
To avoid disruptions in routine healthcare services during the training period, district health officers have been instructed to appoint contractual doctors to temporarily fill the roles of those undergoing training.
Strengthening Specialist Deployment
In conjunction with this training initiative, the Health Department is also focusing on optimizing the deployment of specialists within the Mother and Child Health (MCH) triad, which includes gynaecologists, anaesthetists, and paediatricians, across taluk hospitals and CHCs. The goal is to ensure that these facilities operate as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) centers, capable of managing complex deliveries, caesarean sections, and neonatal emergencies around the clock.
Health Minister’s Insights
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao elaborated on the broader strategy in an interview with The Hindu, revealing that the government plans to implement a rotational “double triad” system. This approach aims to guarantee the 24/7 availability of specialists, which will help minimize unnecessary referrals to tertiary hospitals, where treatment delays can lead to negative maternal and neonatal outcomes.