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Two women died after undergoing caesarean deliveries at New Medical College Hospital in Kota, Rajasthan, prompting health activists to demand stringent action over alleged drug safety lapses and systemic failures in public healthcare oversight. The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on May 8, 2026, citing failures in drug procurement, storage, quality testing, and monitoring.
The memorandum, signed by about 50 public health experts, doctors, and social activists, called for a high-level inquiry, criminal cases against officials and drug suppliers, and compensation of ₹1 crore to the families of the deceased and ₹50 lakh each to women with severe complications, including kidney failure. JSA coordinator Chhaya Pachauli said pharmacovigilance units must be activated to detect adverse drug reactions immediately.
A four-member medical team from Sawai Man Singh Government Hospital in Jaipur has been deployed to monitor the treatment of affected women in the nephrology ward at the Kota hospital. Activists suspect the complications arose from contaminated or incorrect drugs and fluids administered during or after surgery.
The State government has not issued an official response, but the hospital administration has confirmed the deaths and the ongoing treatment of several patients. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.