AP Govt to tag mother and child with RFID to curb kidnaps

Ongole: The state government has decided to introduce radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in general, mother and child hospitals across the state to save the newborns from being kidnapped or missed.

In this system, the authorities will attach RFID tags to baby and mother in the presence of relatives immediately after the delivery. The tags will have the details of baby and mother so that they need not worry that their baby may be exchanged with others.

At the same time, the RFIDs will also have security feature that they work in sync and if the baby is taken away from mother for more than 10 metres, an alarm on the premises will alert the mother and hospital security.

Dr Shaik Mastan Saheb, director of RIMS Ongole, said the government wants to install the system in all hospitals this year. In RIMS, the RFID tracking systems are installed at three entrances and exits of the wards, he added.

If any person, brings the baby out of ward and try to go outside, the trackers at the exits also trip the alarm and alert the security, he said. Mastan Saheb announced that the RFID system will start functioning from next month at RIMS and Mother and Child Hospital in Ongole.

Dr N Kiran Kumar, deputy superintendent of RIMS, said the RFID system is being introduced in the state at Guntur Government General Hospital, RIMS Ongole and MCH Ongole from June 1 and the system will be gradually extended to the remaining hospitals across the state.