A positive operation theatre culture report has raised infection control concerns, but authorities deny any link to the deaths, maintaining the women died from medical complications rather than infection.
Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara has come under scrutiny after five women died within six days at its Maternal and Child Health (MCH) wing following Caesarean deliveries, triggering allegations of medical negligence and raising fresh concerns over patient safety in the state’s public healthcare system.
The deaths have also drawn attention to the hospital’s infection control measures after the operation theatre’s culture report returned positive, although authorities maintain there is no confirmed link between the report and the fatalities.
Hospital officials have rejected allegations of negligence, asserting that the deaths resulted from medical complications and not infection.
The latest victim, Sangeeta Jinagar (32), a resident of Potla, died on Friday after her condition deteriorated following a Caesarean delivery.
She was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but could not be saved despite treatment. Her death sparked protests by family members, who accused the hospital of negligence in providing timely and proper medical care.
Her death followed those of Shimla Gurjar on July 5, Phori Devi on July 7, Isha Pandey on July 8 and Divya on July 9. In each case, the women reportedly developed complications after undergoing Caesarean sections, were admitted to the Medical ICU and later died during treatment.
Their families have levelled similar allegations, blaming the hospital administration and doctors for lapses in care.
The latest deaths have taken the number of maternal fatalities at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital since March to nine, with five occurring during the first 11 days of July alone.
The series of deaths has intensified questions over the hospital’s handling of obstetric cases and the overall quality of healthcare being provided.
The controversy has also highlighted concerns over the hospital’s surgical workload.
Around 30 to 40 Caesarean deliveries are reportedly performed every day, despite the hospital having only eight surgical instrument sets—five meant for routine procedures and three reserved for emergencies.
Since each surgical set requires at least three hours for sterilisation before being reused, concerns have been raised that the volume of surgeries may be exceeding the hospital’s operational capacity, potentially increasing the risk of infection.
Adding to the concerns, the operation theatre’s culture report returned positive, prompting questions over infection control protocols. However, it remains unclear whether the findings have any direct connection with the maternal deaths.
Hospital Superintendent Dr Arun Gaur dismissed claims that infection caused the deaths, stating that microbiological sampling from operation theatres and intensive care units is a routine practice.
He said disinfection and sterilisation are carried out continuously in accordance with the Infection Control Committee’s guidelines and that if any sample fails to meet prescribed standards, the concerned operation theatre is immediately taken out of service.
According to him, the affected OT has remained closed for the past three days for sterilisation and fumigation, and surgeries will resume only after fresh samples return negative.
A special committee comprising experts from the departments of Microbiology, Surgery, Gynaecology and Anaesthesia has been constituted to investigate the recent maternal deaths.
Bhilwara District Collector Jasmeet Singh Sandhu also inspected the hospital and, after reviewing available reports, ruled out infection as the cause, stating that the women died due to different medical reasons and that all necessary precautions were being followed.
