Rajasthan: Alwar hospital licence cancelled after mother dies during child birth

Jaipur, Aug 7 (IANS) The Rajasthan Health Department on Friday cancelled the licence of a private hospital in Alwar after a woman died during childbirth. Taking serious note of the incident at Nishu Hospital in Nagla Raisis, Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Gayatri Rathore, on Friday ordered the registration of an FIR against the hospital.

A departmental inquiry found that the delivery was conducted by a member of the nursing staff in the absence of a qualified doctor, leading to the patient’s death.

The matter came up during a review meeting on maternal and child health services and maternal mortality cases, chaired by Gayatri Rathore via video conference from Swasthya Bhawan.

According to the Health Department, the incident occurred on August 4, when Anjum (Pinky), wife of Sahil Khan, was admitted to Nishu Hospital for delivery. The inquiry revealed that a nursing staff member carried out the delivery without a doctor’s supervision, following which the woman died. After the incident came to light, the department initiated immediate action against the hospital.

The department has cancelled Nishu Hospital’s licence under the provisions of the Clinical Establishments Act after irregularities were found during the investigation. All hospital operations have been ordered to cease with immediate effect.

The Health Department has also written to the Medical Council of India seeking action against the hospital operator, Bhuvnesh Kumar Sharma. Separately, a letter has been sent to the Nursing Council recommending action against Rafikan Bano, the nursing staff member who allegedly conducted the delivery.

During the review meeting, Gayatri Rathore directed officials to maintain accurate and updated records of health check‑ups for pregnant women and ensure timely uploading of data. She instructed Principal Medical Officers (PMOs), Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs), medical college officials and specialists to treat high‑risk pregnancy cases with utmost seriousness and sensitivity.

The Principal Secretary also ordered that a notice be issued to the concerned Divisional Joint Director over negligence in handling high‑risk pregnancy‑related work in the Ajmer Division.

The review also covered the status of biomedical equipment in government hospitals. Officials were instructed to update details of surplus, non‑functional and repairable equipment on the e‑Upkaran portal. Rathore directed maintenance agencies to repair reusable medical equipment without delay to ensure maximum utilisation of hospital resources and improve patient care.

The Principal Secretary also reviewed the condition of Health Department buildings requiring repair or renovation. She instructed officials, in coordination with District Collectors, to identify dilapidated buildings, prioritise repair work based on urgency and immediately restrict public access to unsafe structures. Safety measures should be put in place to prevent accidents until repairs are completed, she said.

–IANS

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