A seven-member high-level committee of specialists from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi and AIIMS Jodhpur on Saturday, 16 May conducted a nearly six-hour inspection of the New Hospital attached to Kota Medical College and J.K. Lon Hospital in Kota, Rajasthan, to investigate recent maternal deaths and kidney failure cases among pregnant and postpartum women. The committee is expected to submit its findings to the Central Government within the next two to three days.

Scope of the Inspection

The committee examined a wide range of hospital facilities, including operating theatres, labour rooms, ICUs, emergency wards, pharmacies, record rooms, and nephrology units. Inspectors reviewed patient histories, treatment records, nursing care protocols, medicines administered, duty registers, and monitoring systems in use during patient care.

The team also scrutinised Post-Gynaecology I and II wards, super-speciality facilities, and the nephrology ICU at the Super-Speciality Hospital, where committee members spoke directly with relatives of critically ill patients. Hospital authorities confirmed that delivery registers and treatment records from gynaecology wards were thoroughly checked.

Committee Composition and Leadership

The committee was headed by Dr Rita Mahe, a gynaecology expert from AIIMS Delhi, and drew specialists across Preventive and Social Medicine, Hospital Administration, Gynaecology, Microbiology, Anaesthesia, and Paediatrics. Members from AIIMS Jodhpur included Dr Ranjan Singh, Dr Ankit Verma, Dr Dalim Singh, Dr Gagandeep Singh, and Dr Manisha Jhirwal.

What the Inspectors Found and Asked

Committee members reportedly questioned nursing staff on delivery management protocols, patient transfers after childbirth, bedside monitoring practices, and overall patient handling systems. The inspection covered the complete patient care continuum — from admission to discharge — with doctors and nurses questioned on treatment timelines and procedures.

While the committee reportedly appreciated certain organised arrangements within the wards, it also sought explanations regarding old stretchers found stored near the Gynaecology I ward. The physical condition of hospital infrastructure — including ward cleanliness, walls, corners, and ramps — was examined in detail.

How the Inquiry Was Triggered

The probe was constituted following discussions between Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda over the sensitive issue of maternal deaths in Kota. The involvement of two senior constitutional and ministerial figures underscores the political gravity of the situation, which has drawn national attention to healthcare delivery at government hospitals in Rajasthan.

What Officials Said

Dr Nirmala Sharma, Superintendent of JK Lon Hospital, confirmed that the committee conducted a detailed investigation into the causes of maternal deaths and critical illnesses, including scrutiny of nursing records, patient care systems, and recovery cases of discharged patients. Dr Nilesh Jain, Principal of Kota Medical College, stated that the inspection of all concerned hospitals had been completed and that the committee had gathered information from patients' families, doctors, and staff before preparing its report.

The committee's findings, once submitted to the Centre, are expected to inform corrective action at both the institutional and policy levels.