IAS officer leads by example, goes to government hospital for second childbirth too

BENGALURU: The public healthcare system may be ailing from trust deficit, especially among the well-heeled. But that did not stop IAS officer Nandini KR from returning to a govt hospital to deliver her second baby.
Nandini, all-India topper in the 2016 civil services exam and currently posted as an additional commissioner of commercial taxes in the commercial taxes department, was admitted to Vani Vilas Hospital, a state-run hospital in Bengaluru, on Feb 16.She gave birth to a baby girl, weighing 3kg, in a normal delivery on Feb 17 night. Both the mother and child, discharged late Friday night, are said to be doing well.
Deliveries in govt hospitals are free. Medicines too are offered free of cost. But Bengaluru has emerged as a hub of private maternity hospitals that promise to make childbirth a memorable experience, and Nandini could have had all her expenses reimbursed. “This is not the first time I’m choosing a govt hospital for delivery. I delivered my first child at Ballari govt hospital where I was working as chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat,” Nandini told TOI. “Govt hospitals have facilities on a par with private hospitals and sometimes are even better than any other setup. It is important to make use of these facilities. Being part of the govt, we’re at the implementation front of everything. We advocate for govt schemes. If we choose this, I hope it will help the system also to get better. As long as we remain outside the system and say things are not on a par, the system won’t improve. I thought it is important for us to set an example by opting for govt services.”
Pre-delivery visit
Before deciding on the hospital, Nandini visited Vani Vilas without giving any notice. At Vani Vilas, low-risk mothers are cared for by midwives, while the high-risk cases are dealt with by obstetricians. Midwives supported over 400 deliveries at the hospital last year.
“I believe the process of child bearing and giving birth should be as natural as possible. Dr Savitha C, medical superintendent at Vani Vilas, explained to me about the midwifery services the hospital offers. That was very much in sync with what I was looking for. Minimal intervention and aspects of midwifery were in sync with my requirements,” said Nandini. “The triage room in the hospital is very hygienic. They’re maintaining good standards. So I was convinced I’d be in safe hands,” she added.
Her husband Rajith BS, a surgeon at ESI Hospital, respected Nandini’s decision and became her birthing companion. “The doctors at Vani Vilas also allow your family to be with you. My mother and elder daughter were with me. My daughter did all the exercises the midwives made me do,” said Nandini.