JAIPUR — The Rajasthan government has mandated comprehensive health screenings for all pregnant women across the state following the deaths of 18 expectant mothers between mid-March and mid-May 2026, a crisis that has reignited concerns over India’s rural healthcare infrastructure. Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar announced the emergency measures on Monday after convening a high-level meeting with medical experts and conducting on-site inspections at two district hospitals in Bhilwara and Banswara, where several of the fatalities occurred.
The deaths, concentrated in some of Rajasthan’s most underserved regions, have prompted accusations of systemic neglect from opposition parties and women’s rights activists, who demand an independent audit of the state’s maternal health services. While the government attributes the spike to long-standing socio-economic challenges, critics argue that the crisis reflects deeper failures in healthcare delivery, including understaffed hospitals, delayed emergency care, and persistent anemia among pregnant women.
What Happened
The 18 maternal deaths were reported across multiple districts, with clusters in Bhilwara and Banswara—two regions with historically high maternal mortality rates. Preliminary investigations by local health officials suggest that severe anemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia), and delays in accessing emergency obstetric care were contributing factors. In several cases, families reported that women were turned away from overcrowded hospitals or forced to travel long distances for treatment, only to arrive in critical condition.
In response, the Rajasthan Health Department has issued directives to all district hospitals to:
– Establish 24-hour emergency obstetric care units.
– Maintain adequate stocks of blood, antibiotics, and essential medicines.
– Deploy additional medical teams, including obstetricians and anesthesiologists, to high-risk areas.
– Launch a statewide screening program to identify high-risk pregnancies early.
Khimsar told reporters that the government is also ramping up public awareness campaigns to promote institutional deliveries and antenatal check-ups, particularly in tribal and remote communities where home births remain common. “We are taking immediate corrective measures, but this is not just a healthcare issue—it is rooted in socio-economic conditions that have persisted for decades,” he said.
Why It Matters
Rajasthan’s maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 164 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022—nearly double the national average of 97—has long been a source of concern. The recent deaths underscore the fragility of progress in reducing maternal mortality, even as India has made strides in improving healthcare access under schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), which guarantees free antenatal check-ups for pregnant women.
The crisis has also exposed political fault lines. Opposition Congress leader Sachin Pilot accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government of “gross mismanagement,” while activists from the Rajasthan Mahila Adhikar Manch demanded accountability for what they describe as “preventable deaths.” The government, however, has pushed back, citing a 12% reduction in maternal mortality since 2021 and arguing that the current crisis is the result of entrenched challenges, including malnutrition, lack of education, and cultural barriers to seeking medical care.
Background and Context
Rajasthan’s struggle with maternal health is not new. The state has one of the highest rates of anemia among pregnant women in India, with nearly 50% of expectant mothers affected, according to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21). Anemia, a condition linked to poor nutrition and inadequate healthcare access, significantly increases the risk of complications during childbirth, including hemorrhage and sepsis.
The state’s vast rural expanse and poor road connectivity further exacerbate the problem. In many districts, pregnant women must travel hours to reach the nearest hospital, often on unreliable public transport. A 2023 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India found that nearly 30% of Rajasthan’s primary health centers (PHCs) lacked basic obstetric care facilities, including functional labor rooms and trained staff.
The government’s response to the current crisis—focused on emergency screenings and hospital preparedness—mirrors past interventions, which have yielded mixed results. While schemes like PMSMA and Janani Suraksha Yojana (a conditional cash transfer program for institutional deliveries) have increased antenatal care visits, critics argue that they have not addressed the root causes of maternal mortality, such as poverty, illiteracy, and gender disparities in healthcare access.
Competing Claims and Uncertainty
The exact causes of the 18 deaths remain under investigation, with state health officials attributing them to a combination of medical and logistical factors. However, opposition leaders and activists have raised questions about the government’s transparency. Congress spokesperson Archana Sharma alleged that the state had “underreported” maternal deaths in previous years to downplay the severity of the crisis. “This is not just about 18 deaths—it is about a pattern of neglect that has cost hundreds of lives,” she said.
The government, meanwhile, has defended its record, pointing to a 2025 report by the Sample Registration System (SRS) that showed a decline in Rajasthan’s MMR from 199 in 2018 to 164 in 2022. Khimsar acknowledged that the state still lags behind national targets but argued that the current crisis was an “aberration” rather than a systemic failure. “We are not denying that there are challenges, but we are taking concrete steps to address them,” he said.
Independent health experts, however, caution that the government’s reliance on emergency measures may not be sufficient. Dr. Vandana Prasad, a public health specialist and former member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, told Herald Express that while screenings are necessary, they must be accompanied by long-term investments in primary healthcare. “You cannot fix maternal mortality with last-minute interventions. What we need is a sustained focus on nutrition, education, and infrastructure—especially in rural areas,” she said.
What to Watch Next
1. Independent Audit: Women’s rights groups have called for an independent audit of Rajasthan’s maternal health services, including an assessment of hospital preparedness, staffing levels, and the implementation of central government schemes. The state government has not yet responded to these demands.
2. Implementation of Screening Program: The success of the statewide screening initiative will depend on the government’s ability to deploy medical teams to remote areas and ensure follow-up care for high-risk pregnancies. Observers will be watching for reports of gaps in coverage or delays in treatment.
3. Political Fallout: The crisis has already become a flashpoint in Rajasthan’s political landscape, with the opposition likely to use it as a campaign issue ahead of the 2028 state elections. The BJP government’s handling of the situation could influence voter perceptions of its healthcare policies.
4. National Implications: Rajasthan’s struggles with maternal mortality are not unique. States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh also face similar challenges, raising questions about the effectiveness of national health schemes in addressing regional disparities. The central government may come under pressure to revisit its approach to maternal health funding and oversight.
Conclusion
The deaths of 18 pregnant women in Rajasthan in just two months have laid bare the vulnerabilities of India’s rural healthcare system. While the state government’s emergency response—including mandatory screenings and hospital upgrades—may provide short-term relief, experts warn that lasting change will require addressing deep-rooted socio-economic barriers. The crisis has also highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in maternal health reporting, as well as a renewed focus on preventive care rather than reactive measures.
For now, the families of the deceased and women across Rajasthan are left waiting to see whether the government’s promises will translate into tangible improvements—or whether this latest tragedy will be just another statistic in India’s ongoing struggle to protect its mothers.
Story synopsis gathered from: [NDTV – India News](https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rajasthan-government-to-screen-pregnant-women-after-18-maternal-deaths-11771859#publisher=newsstand) — source.
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Story synopsis gathered from: NDTV – India News — source.
