Kota hospital deaths: Gehlot says Rajasthan healthcare has collapsed
Synopsis
Two women are dead and four critical after C-section complications at Kota's New Medical Hospital — and former CM Ashok Gehlot is calling it the inevitable result of a collapsing healthcare system, alleging substandard medicine procurement, stalled welfare schemes, and a government that has repeatedly shielded those responsible.
Key Takeaways
Two women died and four others were left critical after caesarean section complications at Kota's New Medical Hospital on 8 May 2025 .
Former CM Ashok Gehlot alleged the deaths resulted from procurement of substandard medicines under "local purchases" and systemic administrative failure.
Gehlot claimed flagship health schemes Chiranjeevi and RGHS have been effectively stalled under the current government.
He cited prior incidents — an ICU fire at SMS Hospital and deaths from contaminated cough syrup — as evidence of unchecked lapses.
Gehlot demanded strict action against the responsible officials, warning against what he called "murder by the system."
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday, 8 May launched a sharp attack on the state government over the deaths of two women following complications after caesarean section procedures at Kota's New Medical Hospital, alleging that Rajasthan's healthcare system had "completely collapsed." The incident has triggered political outrage across the state, with opposition leaders demanding accountability and a high-level probe.
What Happened at Kota's New Medical Hospital
Two new mothers died and four other women were left in critical condition after reported complications following caesarean section procedures at New Medical Hospital in Kota. Gehlot described the deaths as not isolated incidents, but the result of a steadily deteriorating public healthcare system under the current state administration.
"It appears as though Rajasthan has been left entirely rudderless. The tragedy in Kota did not occur suddenly; it is the culmination of Rajasthan's crumbling healthcare infrastructure," Gehlot said.
Allegations of Systemic Failures and Substandard Medicines
Gehlot alleged that the procurement of substandard medicines under the guise of "local purchases" directly contributed to the deaths, calling it "irrefutable proof of administrative failure." He pointed to a pattern of unchecked lapses across government hospitals, citing the ICU fire at SMS Hospital and deaths linked to contaminated cough syrup as earlier incidents that were, in his words, "swept under the rug."
"The racket involving poor-quality medicines procured under the guise of 'local purchases' and the resulting deaths of mothers of innocent children are irrefutable proof of administrative failure. The objective of our Free Medicine Scheme was to save lives, but today negligence is claiming them," he said.
Key Welfare Schemes Allegedly Weakened
The former Chief Minister further claimed that flagship health schemes introduced during his government's tenure had been effectively stalled under the current administration. He specifically named the Chiranjeevi and RGHS schemes, alleging they had been "put on hold." He also noted that private hospitals in the state had been witnessing frequent strikes, compounding the healthcare crisis.
This comes amid broader concerns about the state of public health infrastructure in Rajasthan, where successive governments have faced criticism over under-resourced district hospitals and inadequate staffing.
Gehlot's Demand for Strict Action
Gehlot urged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's government to move beyond what he called "paper-based inquiries" and take concrete punitive action against those responsible. He warned that shielding the culprits would amount to what he termed "murder by the system."
"Honourable Chief Minister, stop the charade of routine inquiries and take concrete action. If the culprits are shielded even now, the people of Rajasthan will never forgive this 'murder by the system'," Gehlot said.
Opposition leaders across Rajasthan have joined the demand for a high-level probe, and the political pressure on the ruling government is expected to intensify as more details emerge from the Kota hospital investigation.
Point of View
But the underlying grievance — systemic neglect in public hospitals — is not new to Rajasthan. The deaths in Kota follow a pattern of institutional failures that have gone unaddressed across governments. What is notable here is the specific allegation of substandard medicine procurement: if verified, it would represent not just negligence but a structural rot in the supply chain that no inquiry commission can paper over. The real question is whether the ruling government responds with accountability or deflection — because Rajasthan's public health crisis predates the current administration and will outlast political point-scoring from either side.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Kota's New Medical Hospital?
Two women died and four others were left in critical condition after complications following caesarean section procedures at Kota's New Medical Hospital in Rajasthan. The incident triggered political outrage and demands for a high-level probe.
What did Ashok Gehlot allege about the Kota hospital deaths?
Gehlot alleged that the deaths were caused by the procurement of substandard medicines under the guise of 'local purchases' and pointed to broader administrative failure. He also claimed that welfare schemes like Chiranjeevi and RGHS had been stalled under the current government.
Which healthcare schemes did Gehlot say were affected?
Gehlot specifically named the Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme and the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS), both introduced during his tenure, alleging they had been effectively put on hold by the current state administration.
What action did Gehlot demand from the government?
Gehlot urged the Chief Minister to move beyond routine inquiries and take strict punitive action against those responsible, warning that shielding culprits would amount to what he called 'murder by the system.'
What earlier hospital incidents did Gehlot reference?
Gehlot cited an ICU fire at SMS Hospital in Jaipur and deaths linked to contaminated cough syrup as prior incidents that he alleged were not adequately investigated, leading to an erosion of accountability in the state's healthcare system.
