Post-partum health crisis continues in Rajasthan as five more women fall seriously ill in Jodhpur

Jaipur, July 18 (IANS) The series of postpartum health complications in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur has continued, with five more women developing serious medical conditions after childbirth over the past two days. All five are currently undergoing treatment at Umaid Hospital, taking the total number of similar cases reported in the city to 13 within the last month.

Hospital authorities said the women were referred from different healthcare facilities after their conditions deteriorated following delivery.

Umaid Hospital Superintendent Dr. Mohan Makwana said one patient is on ventilator support, while three others are being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Another patient has been admitted to the general ward and is reported to be stable.

According to the hospital, all five women suffered severe postpartum bleeding, which led to complications requiring advanced medical care.

Dr. Makwana said there is currently no evidence suggesting that medicines administered to the patients are responsible for the complications, as all patients have received the same treatment protocol.

However, he added that an enquiry would be conducted if directed by the authorities.

The five women were referred from different hospitals across Rajasthan. They include Saroj, from Osian, who developed cardiac complications during pregnancy and is currently on ventilator support, Rekha, referred from a private hospital in Pali, suffered severe bleeding and HELLP syndrome and is now on oxygen support, Pooja, from Shergarh, remains in the ICU after excessive blood loss, Roshni, referred from a private hospital in Nagaur, developed complications linked to high blood pressure and a breech pregnancy and is receiving oxygen support in the ICU.

Another woman referred from the Jaitaran-Bajju region is being treated for low platelet count and has received blood component therapy.

The latest incident follows an earlier episode on June 20, when eight women developed health complications after Caesarean deliveries at Pawta District Hospital.

While all eight women later recovered and investigations reportedly found no problems with the operation theatre, medicines or laboratory tests, the recurrence of similar cases has once again raised concerns over maternal healthcare and referral systems.

With the addition of the latest five patients, 13 women have experienced serious postpartum complications in Jodhpur in just one month.

The city is also witnessing scrutiny over a separate case involving an alleged wrong blood transfusion at Umaid Hospital. A woman named Dhapu, who delivered a baby on July 11, was allegedly transfused with an incompatible blood group after being referred to the hospital. Her condition deteriorated, leading to kidney complications, and she is currently undergoing dialysis in the ICU at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.

An enquiry committee has reportedly found that the transfusion error occurred because proper verification and cross-matching procedures were not followed.

The report has identified lapses by resident doctors, laboratory technicians and nursing staff, and disciplinary action is expected.

While hospital authorities have attributed the latest cases primarily to excessive blood loss and pregnancy-related complications, the repeated incidents within a short period have drawn attention to maternal healthcare practices in the BJP-ruled state.

Health officials are continuing to monitor the affected women, while separate enquiries into the blood transfusion error and the recent postpartum complications are underway.

–IANS

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