JAIPUR: In a major push to enhance maternal healthcare and prevent medical negligence, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas has directed the health administration to ensure rigorous, personalized monitoring of all high-risk pregnancies across Rajasthan. Under the new mandate, every high-risk pregnant woman will be mapped to an appropriate medical facility—ranging from Community Health Centres (CHCs) to district hospitals and medical colleges—and placed under the direct, continuous supervision of an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM).
During a high-level video conference at Swasthya Bhawan on Saturday, the Chief Secretary instructed that designated ANMs must personally contact their assigned high-risk patients every three days. He strictly emphasized daily compliance with established labor room and Operation Theatre (OT) protocols, warning that there will be zero tolerance for maternal deaths resulting from medical negligence.
Maternal Mortality Audits and Daily Reporting
To ensure absolute systemic accountability, Srinivas ordered that Maternal Mortality Audit Committees—comprising multi-departmental medical experts—conduct weekly reviews of any maternal deaths, analyzing causes at both institutional and community levels.
The administration is simultaneously deploying a comprehensive communication strategy to educate expectant mothers on crucial issues like prenatal care, birth spacing, and anemia prevention. Furthermore, the Chief Secretary mandated a standardized daily reporting system for all state medical institutions. Hospitals are now required to submit daily data on normal and cesarean deliveries, admitted pregnant women, bed availability, and the operational status of ICUs, OTs, and labor rooms.
During the extensive session, Srinivas gathered suggestions and reviewed treatment protocols, blood bank availability, and patient tracking metrics with the principals of medical colleges in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kota, and Ajmer, as well as various hospital superintendents and Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs).
Statewide 5-Day Screening Campaign
Principal Secretary of Medical and Health, Gayatri Rathore, informed the panel that an intensive 5-day screening campaign was launched on July 15. The health department is actively tracking pregnant women statewide, with ANMs, Community Health Officers (CHOs), and ASHA workers operating under explicit directives to single out and closely monitor high-risk cases.
The critical review meeting saw the attendance of top health executives, including Medical Education Commissioner Babulal Goyal, NHM Mission Director Dr. Ravi Prakash Sharma, Additional Mission Director NHM Dr. T. Shubhamangala, RCH Director Dr. Madhu Rateshwar, and RMSCL Executive Director Jai Singh.
