After TOI reports on ‘cover up’ in Kota C-section deaths, Khimsar orders detailed probe

Jaipur: A day after TOI highlighted ‘Kota C-section deaths trigger cover-up fears as samples found sterile’, health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar Wednesday ordered a thorough investigation into every aspect of the case.

Four women have died while five others are battling for life after undergoing C-section in Kota.

At a high-level meeting at the health directorate, Khimsar reviewed the deaths and the worsening condition of women after C-sections at Kota New Medical College Hospital. He directed officials to examine all possible causes, including medicine quality, infection from the operation theatre or equipment, and negligence in treatment. He ordered full compliance with treatment protocols and SOPs in all hospitals.

Calling the incident “extremely tragic and unfortunate,” Khimsar said a high-level inquiry was essential so that responsibility could be fixed and corrective action taken. He held detailed discussions with principal secretary (health and medical education) Gayatri Rathore, medical education commissioner Babu Lal Goyal and other officials. Rathore had recently inspected the hospital in Kota.

The minister asked officials to obtain inspection reports on medicines, equipment, and other samples at the earliest. He directed hospitals across Rajasthan with heavy patient loads and high delivery rates to strictly follow medical protocols and special precautions to prevent similar incidents.

Khimsar said the state govt acted immediately after the matter came to light by sending specialist teams to Kota for treatment support and investigation. Based on prima facie findings of negligence in treatment and supervision, three doctors and four nursing staff were suspended, while one doctor working on UTB was dismissed. Show-cause notices were issued to the superintendents of New Medical College Hospital and JK Lon Hospital. Further action will depend on the final inquiry report.

He will visit Kota Thursday to review the situation on the ground, inspect New Medical College Hospital and JK Lon Hospital, meet admitted patients and their families, and hold another high-level meeting with officials.

Separately, the medical education department has directed New Medical College, Kota, to issue SOPs within two days based on recommendations from SMS Medical College specialists. These will cover hospital procedures, blood transfusions, and patient treatment records. Staff training and strict specialist supervision have also been ordered.

The health department has launched statewide audits of operation theatre sterilisation and aseptic practices in govt hospitals in the backdrop of the deaths. Teams are checking OT protocols, instrument sterilisation, autoclave functioning, biomedical waste disposal, air quality, hand hygiene, surface disinfection and post-operative infection control.