Jaipur: Rajasthan has recorded 108 deaths of pregnant and postpartum women in govt hospitals over the past 50 days, raising concerns over fragile maternal healthcare, delayed referrals and gaps in timely treatment.According to the health department, many of the women were high-risk pregnancy cases and died due to postpartum haemorrhage, severe anaemia and complications aggravated by late referrals.Officials said 73 maternal deaths were reported in Aug, while 35 deaths were recorded in the first 20 days of Sept.Several women died after delivering healthy babies, leaving newborns without mothers and families devastated.Two recent deaths in Bundi highlighted the continuing crisis. In one case, a woman died after excessive bleeding following delivery. In another, a woman developed breathing difficulties after a caesarean delivery and died.In one maternal death reported from Churu on Aug 28, the health department held an auxiliary nurse midwife responsible for negligence.Similarly, five pregnant women died within a few days at New Medical College Hospital in Kota in May. Similar deaths were later reported from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Bhilwara, Banswara and other districts, prompting the state govt to review each maternal death.Since May, the department has been monitoring maternal deaths and claims to have strengthened facilities for pregnant women.An official said, “Timely identification of high-risk pregnant women, regular follow-up and monitoring of antenatal check-up services are being carried out. As a result, compared to Aug, there has been a decline in death cases in Sept. There were 73 deaths in Aug, while the number declined to 35 in Sept,” the official said.Reviewing maternal deaths Monday, principal secretary, health and medical education, Gayatri Rathore, said directions had been issued to ensure high-risk pregnant women receive all four antenatal check-ups on time. “After this, they should also receive the necessary health services during delivery and after delivery. There should be no gap at any level in the care of pregnant women,” Rathore said.The department has also launched the Prasav Sakhi programme to improve coordination among hospital staff and ensure women in labour receive assistance from admission through delivery and postnatal care.
