Karnataka to declare sudden deaths as notifiable disease, mandates autopsy

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, July 7, 2025: The state health department has decided to declare sudden deaths in the state as a notifiable disease. The decision comes in the wake of numerous sudden deaths due to heart attacks being reported from across the state.

Health and Family welfare minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, while announcing the decision on Monday, said that all such deaths outside the hospital will have to be notified to the government and an autopsy is a must in such cases.

“Over the last few months, we have seen many cases where people suddenly collapse while walking casually or exercising. It is important to understand the cause of such deaths, and hence, all such incidents will have to be reported, and an autopsy is mandatory,” he said.

The decision was taken following the report by the government-appointed expert committee, which, in its recommendations noted that there is a need for a cardiac surveillance program and a national registry for sudden cardiac deaths among young adults.

The health department has also decided to conduct annual screening for heart diseases among school students and government employees.

The ‘Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi’ scheme will also be expanded to prevent such sudden deaths in the state, Rao announced.