At least 13 women have now suffered serious postpartum complications in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, within a single month, after five more were admitted to Umaid Hospital over the past two days following deterioration of their conditions after childbirth. All five are currently receiving advanced medical care at the facility, which has become the focal point of a growing maternal health crisis in the region.

Current Condition of the Five Patients

According to Umaid Hospital Superintendent Dr. Mohan Makwana, one patient is on ventilator support, three others are being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and a fifth has been admitted to the general ward and is reported to be stable. All five women were referred from different healthcare facilities across Rajasthan after their conditions worsened following delivery.

The five patients include Saroj from Osian, who developed cardiac complications during pregnancy and remains on ventilator support; Rekha, referred from a private hospital in Pali, who suffered severe bleeding and HELLP syndrome and is on oxygen support; Pooja from Shergarh, who remains in the ICU after excessive blood loss; and Roshni, referred from a private hospital in Nagaur, who developed complications linked to high blood pressure and a breech pregnancy and is receiving oxygen support in the ICU. A fifth woman, referred from the Jaitaran-Bajju region, is being treated for a low platelet count and has received blood component therapy.

Hospital's Position on Treatment Protocol

Dr. Makwana stated there is currently no evidence suggesting that medicines administered to the patients caused the complications, noting that all patients received the same treatment protocol. He added, however, that an enquiry would be conducted if directed by the authorities. Hospital officials have attributed the cases primarily to severe postpartum haemorrhage and pregnancy-related complications rather than institutional error.

The Pattern: A Month of Recurring Cases

This is not an isolated episode. On 20 June, eight women developed health complications after Caesarean deliveries at Pawta District Hospital. All eight subsequently recovered, and investigations reportedly found no problems with the operation theatre, medicines, or laboratory tests. The recurrence of similar cases — now totalling 13 in under a month — has nonetheless renewed scrutiny over maternal healthcare delivery and the referral system across Rajasthan.

Wrong Blood Transfusion Case Adds to Concerns

Separately, Umaid Hospital is also under scrutiny over an alleged wrong blood transfusion. A woman named Dhapu, who delivered a baby on 11 July, was allegedly transfused with an incompatible blood group after being referred to the hospital. Her condition deteriorated, resulting in kidney complications; 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.

What Happens Next

Health officials are continuing to monitor all affected women, while separate enquiries into the blood transfusion error and the broader pattern of postpartum complications remain underway. The repeated incidents within a compressed timeframe have drawn wider attention to maternal healthcare infrastructure and referral protocols in Rajasthan, with calls for systemic review growing louder.