Six maternal deaths occurred within five days at Rajasthan’s Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital in Bhilwara, with two more in Banswara following Caesarean-section deliveries, prompting worries about infection control and patient safety in the state’s public healthcare system.
Hospital authorities confirmed the presence of infection in the operation theatre (OT) and are investigating if it played a role in the deaths. The latest death in Bhilwara on Friday brought the total to six since July 6, with affected surgeries suspended and patients transferred as a precaution.
Samples from the OT, surgical instruments, and equipment are being examined microbiologically, and an inquiry committee is looking into the deaths and any infection control lapses. The hospital’s infrastructure is also under scrutiny due to concerns over sterilization practices and infection management.
Following the incidents, a team is investigating, and samples of administered injections have been collected. Additionally, two new mothers in Banswara died after C-section deliveries, one being anemic and the other having high blood pressure, adding to concerns over maternal healthcare in Rajasthan.
The tragedies in Bhilwara and Banswara come after similar issues in Kota, Bikaner, and Jodhpur, raising questions about the state’s public healthcare system. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticized the situation, calling it alarming and reflecting serious healthcare system flaws.
