Jaipur: Two more pregnant women have died in Rajasthan after being referred to higher medical centres, raising fresh concerns over delays in emergency obstetric care and the loss of critical treatment time.Krishna Kumari, 32, from Phalodi, died Thursday at Jodhpur’s Umaid Hospital, where she was admitted with a high-risk pregnancy. Officials said she underwent a surgical delivery but developed severe breathing difficulty Thursday morning. She was put on a ventilator and shifted to the Respiratory ICU, but could not be saved.In another case, Saroj, a resident of Nagaur district, was brought to MDM Hospital with heavy bleeding and intrauterine foetal death. Doctors tried to save her, but she died during treatment Thursday, officials said.The deaths come amid similar referral-linked maternal fatalities reported from Dungarpur, Alwar’s Govindgarh and the Shahpura-Bhilwara route. The cases have highlighted concerns over critically ill pregnant women being shifted to distant facilities instead of receiving timely emergency care closer to home.A senior health department official said directions have been issued to reduce complications in high-risk pregnancies through better nutrition, regular counselling, continuous monitoring and timely treatment. Medical officers, auxiliary nurse midwives and community health centres have been asked to closely track such women to prevent deterioration requiring ICU care.The department has also directed advance examination and specialist consultation for high-risk pregnant women expected to deliver within a month.It has ordered random inspections of the 104 ambulance service, including feedback from drivers and officials, and immediate correction of deficiencies. Guidelines have also been issued for effective operation of Safe Delivery and Janani Express services.Under the guidelines, high-risk pregnant women are to be referred to higher-level institutions one to two days before their expected delivery date. A standard operating procedure has also been ordered for managing anaemia and hypertension in high-risk pregnancies.
