For the first time, the Health Department has engaged an NGO, IFMR-LEAD (Institute for Financial Management and Research — Leveraging Evidence for Access and Development), to conduct an impact evaluation of the maternal mortality reduction initiative. “We have framed the clinical guidelines and the pilot implementation has given us a lot of positive feedback. But so far, we have not been able to measure the outcome of this initiative in clear terms as no baseline data were collected from the hospitals prior to the initiation of the pilot,” Health Secretary K. Ellangovan said.
The IFMR has now completed a baseline survey of 22 hospitals, excluding the five government medical college hospitals, where the quality initiative will now be implemented.
They will conduct another survey six months after the implementation of the programme and present an impact evaluation report.
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However, obstetricians have expressed concern about the “weakening” government support for the plan, primarily the cuts in funding. This has affected the supply of sterile delivery kits in maternity hospitals as well as the provision of dedicated labour room staff in the hospitals.