Jaipur, July 11: In a troubling turn of events, six maternal deaths have been reported at the Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, within just five days. Additionally, two more fatalities occurred in Banswara, raising serious concerns about infection control and patient safety in the state’s public healthcare system.
Hospital administration has confirmed the detection of an infection in the operating theater. Investigations are underway to determine if this played a role in the deaths.
The latest death occurred on Friday, bringing the total number of women who lost their lives since July 6 to six. These women had undergone C-sections prior to their deteriorating conditions. Following reports of infection, surgeries in the affected operating theater were halted, and several patients were transferred to other hospitals as a precaution.
Hospital officials stated that samples from the operating theater, surgical instruments, and machines have been sent for microbiological testing. A committee has been formed to investigate the deaths and identify any lapses in infection control and hospital protocols.
This incident has also raised questions about the hospital’s infrastructure. Reports indicate that the facility conducts 30 to 40 C-sections daily, yet only has five surgical sets available. This raises concerns about sterilization and infection management.
A five-member team has been established to investigate the matter, and samples of the injections administered to the patients have also been collected.
In Banswara, two more maternal deaths were reported on Friday. Both women had given birth to their first child via C-section. One woman suffered from anemia, while the other had high blood pressure. Similar incidents have previously occurred in Kota, Bikaner, and Jodhpur.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot described these deaths as “heart-wrenching and extremely concerning,” alleging that they reflect serious deficiencies in the state’s healthcare system. Expressing condolences to the affected families, Gehlot criticized the continuation of C-sections despite reports of infection in the operating theater, labeling it as “gross negligence and a deteriorating healthcare system.”
Gehlot stated, “The maternal deaths in Bhilwara and Banswara are alarming and deeply concerning. My sympathies are with the affected families. Continuing C-sections despite infection reports and performing 30 to 40 surgeries with only five surgical sets clearly indicates severe negligence and the declining state of the healthcare system. After Kota, Bikaner, and Jodhpur, the situation in Bhilwara is equally alarming. Has the BJP government left Rajasthan’s healthcare system to fate?”
He urged the central government to take the matter seriously, calling for an expert team from the Ministry of Health to assess the situation in hospitals across Rajasthan and conduct a thorough investigation to save maternal lives.
Meanwhile, health department officials stated that an investigation is ongoing, and actions will be taken based on the findings. They are also awaiting laboratory reports to determine the exact causes of the infections and maternal deaths.
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