Jaipur: Health and medical education minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar has denied any incidence of medical negligence behind the string of deaths of women – mostly following childbirth – at govt-run hospitals in the state over the past months.The minister’s claims came even as the state govt deputed a specialist team from the health directorate in Jaipur to investigate the deaths of nine women in Bhilwara and Banswara districts between July 5 and July 10. The team has been tasked with determining if clinical lapses, delayed treatment, referral failures or infrastructure gaps contributed to the fatalities.A total of 18 women have died at various govt-run medical institutions across five districts since May, several of them following caesarean deliveries.The health directorate team will examine medical records, treatment protocols, and emergency response systems, and record statements from doctors, nurses, patient families and district health officials before submitting a field inquiry report to the state govt.“So far, no clear fact of medical negligence has come to light. If negligence or violation of protocol is confirmed at any level, strict action will be taken as per rules,” Khimsar said Sunday, adding that the deaths were being examined as per established protocols.In an attempt to explain the high number of recent maternal mortalities at govt-run medical institutions, the minister said many critically ill patients – including women with high-risk pregnancies, excessive bleeding, hypertension, heart disease, severe anaemia and other complications – are often referred to govt hospitals from private facilities. Such cases, he added, are handled by specialist teams with sensitivity and urgency.Khimsar said all medical institutions have been directed to ensure full compliance with maternal health protocols, timely identification of high-risk pregnancies, regular monitoring, proper referrals and availability of specialist care.As part of the health directorate team’s investigation, gynaecology experts are scheduled to meet Monday to review each fatality and recommend steps to prevent recurrences. Senior health department officials described every case of maternal death as “extremely sad and sensitive”.Officials at the health department, meanwhile, pointed out that the state govt is working continuously to reduce the maternal mortality ratio. Quoting from the 2022-24 Sample Registration System, they said Rajasthan’s maternal mortality ratio has declined to 87 per lakh live births during the present govt’s tenure, a reduction of about 15 points.They added that institutional deliveries have also increased to 94.1% over the same period, around four percentage points above the national average.
