JAIPUR — Eighteen women have died during or shortly after childbirth in Rajasthan over the past two months, a staggering spike that has exposed deep fractures in the state’s maternal healthcare system and left families demanding justice. The deaths, recorded across five districts between March and April 2026, have reignited concerns about systemic failures in emergency obstetric care, staff shortages, and the state’s ability to meet its own maternal health targets.
Official records from the Rajasthan health department, reviewed by Herald Express, confirm the fatalities occurred in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bharatpur, and Alwar. While the government has yet to release a detailed report on the causes, interviews with family members, health workers, and public health experts point to a pattern of delayed emergency care, inadequate infrastructure, and gaps in antenatal monitoring. The deaths come as Rajasthan’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) — already higher than the national average — faces renewed scrutiny.
What Happened
The 18 maternal deaths were reported in rapid succession, with most occurring in government-run primary health centers (PHCs) and district hospitals. In Jodhpur, 24-year-old Rekha Devi died hours after delivering her second child at a PHC due to uncontrolled postpartum hemorrhage. Her husband, Ramesh Kumar, told Herald Express that medical staff were unavailable when she needed urgent intervention. “We were told to wait, but by the time they attended to her, it was too late,” he said. The district administration has since ordered an inquiry, though no findings have been made public.
In Udaipur, 28-year-old Poonam Meena died at a district hospital after developing eclampsia, a severe pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and organ failure. Her family alleged she was turned away from two smaller health facilities before being admitted in critical condition. “They kept saying there were no beds, no doctors,” said her brother, Suresh Meena. “How can a woman in labor be sent away like this?”
Other cases follow similar trajectories: women arriving at health facilities in distress, only to face delays in treatment due to understaffing or lack of essential medical supplies. In Bharatpur, a 30-year-old woman died after being referred from a PHC to a district hospital, a journey that took over three hours due to poor road connectivity. In Alwar, a 22-year-old died of sepsis after delivering at home because her family could not afford transportation to the nearest health center.
Why It Matters
Maternal mortality is a critical indicator of a healthcare system’s effectiveness, particularly in low-resource settings. Rajasthan’s MMR — 113 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) data from 2022 — remains significantly higher than the national average of 97. While the state has made progress in reducing maternal deaths over the past decade, the recent spike suggests a reversal of gains.
The deaths also highlight persistent inequities in India’s healthcare system. Rajasthan, with its large rural population and high rates of anemia and malnutrition among women, has long struggled to provide consistent maternal care. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21), 54.4% of pregnant women in Rajasthan are anemic, a major risk factor for complications during childbirth. Yet, state health officials have not announced targeted interventions to address this crisis.
Dr. Anjali Nayyar, executive vice president of Global Health Strategies, told Herald Express that the deaths reflect broader governance failures. “Maternal mortality is not just a health issue; it’s a governance issue,” she said. “When women die from preventable causes like hemorrhage, sepsis, or eclampsia, it points to a breakdown in the continuum of care — from antenatal check-ups to emergency obstetric services.”
Background and Context
Rajasthan’s maternal health crisis is not new. The state has consistently ranked among India’s worst performers in maternal and child health indicators. A 2025 audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India found that several National Health Mission (NHM)-funded maternal health schemes in Rajasthan were plagued by delays in fund disbursement, poor monitoring, and underutilization of allocated resources. The audit revealed that only 60% of the funds earmarked for maternal health programs in 2023-24 were actually spent, with the remainder either diverted or left unutilized.
The state’s healthcare infrastructure has also come under fire. According to the Rural Health Statistics 2024, Rajasthan has a shortfall of 32% in specialist doctors at community health centers (CHCs) and 28% in PHCs. Many facilities lack basic equipment, such as blood banks, operating theaters, and neonatal care units. In rural areas, where 70% of the state’s population resides, access to emergency obstetric care remains severely limited.
Despite these challenges, the Rajasthan government has touted its progress in reducing maternal mortality. In 2021, the state launched the Mukhyamantri Nishulk Dava Yojana (Free Medicine Scheme), which provides free essential drugs to pregnant women. However, critics argue that such schemes are insufficient without addressing systemic issues like staff shortages and infrastructure gaps.
Competing Claims and Uncertainty
The Rajasthan government has not issued a comprehensive response to the recent deaths. Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena acknowledged the “unfortunate incidents” in a statement last week, attributing some of the deaths to “complications beyond the control of medical staff.” He assured that “corrective measures” were being taken, including the deployment of additional doctors and the upgrading of PHCs, but provided no specific timeline or details.
Local activists and public health experts, however, dispute the government’s narrative. Kavita Srivastava, state coordinator for the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), called the deaths “a direct result of years of neglect.” “Rajasthan has one of the highest rates of anemia among pregnant women, and yet there is no urgency in addressing it,” she said. “The state’s health budget has been stagnant for years, and rural healthcare infrastructure remains woefully understaffed.”
There is also uncertainty about the exact causes of the deaths. While family members and local health workers have pointed to delays in emergency care, the government has not released autopsy reports or detailed investigations. Public health advocates argue that without transparent reporting, it is impossible to determine whether the deaths were preventable or the result of unavoidable complications.
What to Watch Next
The immediate focus will be on the government’s response. Will Rajasthan release a detailed report on the causes of the 18 deaths, and will it hold health officials accountable? The state has a history of slow and opaque inquiries into maternal deaths, often leaving families without closure.
Public health experts are also watching for concrete policy changes. Dr. Nayyar suggested that the state should prioritize the following measures:
1. Expansion of the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a conditional cash transfer scheme that incentivizes institutional deliveries, particularly in rural areas.
2. Better training for frontline health workers, including auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and accredited social health activists (ASHAs), to recognize and manage obstetric emergencies.
3. Stricter enforcement of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), which guarantees free antenatal check-ups for pregnant women on the 9th of every month.
4. Improved infrastructure, including the establishment of more blood banks and neonatal care units in rural hospitals.
Civil society groups are also likely to intensify pressure on the government. The PUCL and other organizations have announced plans to file Right to Information (RTI) applications seeking details of the inquiries into the deaths. They are also pushing for a judicial probe into the systemic failures that led to the fatalities.
Conclusion
The deaths of 18 women in Rajasthan over the past two months are a grim reminder of the fragility of India’s maternal healthcare system. While the state has made progress in reducing maternal mortality, the recent spike underscores the need for urgent reforms. Without transparent investigations, accountability for health officials, and targeted interventions to address staff shortages and infrastructure gaps, such tragedies are likely to recur.
For the families of the deceased, the wait for answers continues. “We just want to know why this happened,” said Ramesh Kumar, Rekha Devi’s husband. “When will someone be held responsible?” The question hangs over Rajasthan’s healthcare system, demanding not just condolences, but action.
Story synopsis gathered from: [NDTV — India News](https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rajasthan-maternal-deaths-when-will-mumma-return-rajasthan-maternal-deaths-tear-families-apart-rajasthan-healthcare-system-11768300#publisher=newsstand) — NDTV.
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Story synopsis gathered from: NDTV – India News — source.
