Telangana has been ranked second in the country in quality of healthcare given to sick newborn children, the state’s Health Department claimed.
Citing results of an exercise taken up by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the health department said in a press release that the State’s sick newborn care units were better than those in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and even Kerala but only behind Haryana, which was ranked first in the country.
“The Ministry has ranked us in terms of quality of care. A high quality of care is essential to lower infant mortality rate,” said V. Karuna, Commissioner, Health and Family Welfare.
The findings of a recently released Sample Registration Survey for 2016 showed infant mortality rate in Telangana reduced by three points from 34 to 31. Health officials attributed the reduction to the 22 Sick Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) in the State. Around seven more units are set to become operational soon.