JAIPUR: Rajasthan health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar faced backlash after discussing the maternal deaths of 18 women in government hospitals and ending his remarks with, “Lets meet after the break,” a response that has triggered criticism for its apparent insensitivity amid a widening public health crisis.Nearly three months after clusters of maternal deaths began surfacing in Kota, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Bhilwara and Banswara, the Health Department has yet to identify a clear cause. The deaths, reported since May across state-run hospitals, have raised serious concerns over hospital safety, delays in the investigation and accountability.Khimsar had convened a high-level meeting at Swasthya Bhawan in Jaipur to review the fatalities and decide the government’s next course of action. Doctors from the affected districts, principals of medical colleges and senior Health Department officials attended the meeting.However, the minister’s interaction with the media offered little clarity. Asked why women were dying in clusters, what the inquiry reports had found and what action had been taken, Khimsar described the deaths as a “mystery” and said the cause had not yet been ascertained.“We are taking help from experts, and if needed, we will take help from outside,” he said.As media continued to press for answers, the minister rose from his chair and left the room, smiling as he said, “Let’s meet after the break.”The remark has intensified criticism of the government’s handling of the deaths, with the Health Department already under pressure for failing to explain the fatalities despite multiple reviews and expert assessments.The absence of a confirmed cause has left affected families without answers and intensified scrutiny of Rajasthan’s public healthcare system. With 18 maternal deaths reported across five districts and no clear accountability established so far, the government now faces growing questions over whether the crisis is being investigated with the urgency it demands.
