JAIPUR: Nine women who underwent surgeries in the obstetrics and gynaecology departments of two government hospitals in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara and Banswara districts died over the past week, raising concerns over maternal healthcare and hospital practices. The state government has ordered inquiries by expert teams into the deaths. Officials maintained that investigations are underway to ascertain the exact causes.According to news agency PTI, five women died at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara over the past week. Hospital Superintendent Arun Gaur said infection control measures are being strictly followed and an inquiry is underway.He added that an operation theatre (OT), where a sample was found to be unsatisfactory, has remained closed for the past three days.In Banswara, four females, including a minor, died between July 7 and 10, prompting the state government to order an investigation by an expert panel. Rajasthan Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said on Saturday that the government is treating the incidents with “utmost seriousness” and has deployed expert teams.He said a meeting with gynaecology experts will be held on Monday to review the cases and discuss corrective measures. He added that he will visit Bhilwara on Tuesday. “The state government is taking the incidents of maternal deaths in Bhilwara and Banswara with utmost seriousness. A team of expert officials from the Directorate has been sent to both districts to investigate the real causes,” the minister said.Referring to the Bhilwara cases, Khimsar said the preliminary report found no evidence linking the deaths to an infection in the operation theatre (OT). “The preliminary report of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Bhilwara, has been received, in which no confirmation of infection in the operation theatre has been found,” he said. He said the deaths were caused by “different medical complications”. “In each case, the cause of death was different medical complications such as myocardial infarction, hypovolemic shock, pulmonary thromboembolism, HELLP syndrome and post-partum haemorrhage with DIC,” Khimsar said, adding that linking all deaths to OT infection would be “factually incorrect”.Explaining the protocol, he said microbiological culture testing of operation theatres is a routine procedure, and an OT is not put back into use until it is disinfected and receives clearance. Hospital Superintendent Gaur also said that sampling in the operation theatre and ICU is a regular process. “Continuous disinfection and sterilisation are carried out as per the guidelines of the Infection Control Committee,” he said. “If any sample does not meet the prescribed standards, the concerned OT is immediately taken out of use,” he added.Gaur said the operation theatre (OT), where a sample was found to be unsatisfactory, has remained closed for the past three days. “Sterilisation and fumigation are underway, and no surgeries will be conducted there until fresh sample reports return negative,” he said.He added that a special committee comprising experts from the microbiology, surgery, gynaecology and anaesthesia departments has been constituted to investigate the deaths.Officials said investigators are also examining whether the presence of bacteria in the OT could have been linked to the deaths.In Banswara, district collector Inderjeet Singh Yadav said four deaths were reported over four days, prompting the formation of a five-member committee to conduct a detailed inquiry. “Four maternal deaths have been reported between July 7 and 10. Two patients were brought in a critical condition, while two cases involved caesarean procedures,” Yadav said.He said one of the victims, a minor girl, died after being admitted in a critical condition following complications during an abortion in a rural area.In two other cases, severe anaemia is suspected to have been the primary cause of death, while another woman died during surgery, with high blood pressure believed to have been a contributing factor. “A five-doctor committee has been formed, and a team from Jaipur is also arriving. The exact cause of deaths will be known after the report. If any lapse is found at any level, strict action will be taken,” Yadav said. He added that medical records are being examined and staff statements recorded as part of the probe, assuring that the inquiry will be conducted with full transparency.Khimsar said the inquiry will examine all aspects of the cases, including treatment protocols, the quality of medicines, infection control measures and monitoring systems. “The investigation will be scientific and fact-based, and conclusions will be drawn only after the report is received,” he said.Expressing condolences over the deaths, the minister described the incidents as “extremely unfortunate” and said strict action would be taken if any negligence is found.(With agency inputs)
