HemoSonics, a medical device company, has been awarded a $525,000 grand prize in the NIH’s RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge. The company’s Quantra Hemostasis System, used for managing acute bleeding, shows promise for preventing postpartum hemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal mortality. This win highlights the potential of innovative diagnostics to improve maternal health outcomes and address global health disparities.
An inquiry into birth trauma in the UK has revealed a disturbing rise in inadequate maternity care, with a staggering increase in the percentage of units ranked as ‘inadequate’ since 2022. Many women have shared harrowing experiences of hemorrhage, lack of pain relief, and lack of compassion from staff. The inquiry calls for a complete overhaul of maternity and postnatal care strategies, including increased funding, training of midwives, and respect for women’s choices during childbirth.
