Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on 18 June launched a scathing attack on the state government over the deaths of five new mothers at Kota's New Medical College and a parallel crisis in Bikaner, where suspected operation theatre infections have reportedly caused kidney failure in post-delivery patients. Citing an inquiry report that attributed the Kota deaths directly to negligence in treatment, Gehlot called the findings evidence of a systemic collapse in Rajasthan's public healthcare administration.

What the Inquiry Found

The inquiry report into the Kota maternal deaths case reportedly concluded that negligence in treatment was the direct cause of death of five women following childbirth at New Medical College, Kota. An AIIMS team raised suspicions of operation theatre infections, a finding Gehlot said 'completely shreds the credibility of the hospital administration's claims.' Five additional women who underwent procedures at the same facility are currently battling critical conditions, including kidney failure, and are undergoing dialysis.

The Bikaner Dimension

Gehlot stated that the crisis was not confined to Kota. Similar concerns have emerged in Bikaner, where dilapidated hospital conditions, poor sanitation, and suspected OT infections have reportedly been linked to kidney failure in new mothers. He described both situations as evidence of a pattern of institutional neglect rather than isolated incidents, arguing that the state's entire health department was, in his words, 'itself on a ventilator.'

Gehlot's Demands to the Government

Gehlot said he personally met affected families and hospitalised patients during a visit to Kota, describing them as women from 'extremely impoverished families' with no assurance of continued government funding for treatment after discharge. He made the following demands to the state government and Chief Minister: immediate suspension of senior officials and doctors responsible for the negligence; registration of criminal cases against them; financial compensation to affected families without delay; and a government commitment to bear 100 per cent of the costs for kidney transplants and all future medical treatment if any of the affected women suffer total kidney failure.

Call for Systemic Overhaul

Beyond immediate accountability, Gehlot demanded a comprehensive review of infection-control protocols, operation theatre standards, maternal healthcare services, and hospital management practices across Rajasthan. He warned that any attempt by the government to dismiss the incidents in Kota and Bikaner as mere accidents would amount to shielding those responsible. He accused the administration of failing to maintain basic standards of patient safety, cleanliness, and medical supervision in public hospitals — institutions that poor families depend on as their only recourse for healthcare.

What Happens Next

As of 18 June, the state government had not publicly responded to Gehlot's demands. The five women on dialysis remain in critical condition, and the families of the deceased are yet to receive confirmed assurances of compensation, according to reports. The political pressure is expected to intensify as opposition leaders push for a floor discussion and independent medical audit of the affected facilities.