Maternal Mortality Declines in Rajasthan: Govt
Timely identification of high-risk pregnant women, regular follow-up and antenatal care services has caused a dip in maternal deaths in September compared with August, says Rajasthan Chief Secretary
UdaipurTimes, Sept 22, 2026 - Rajasthan Chief Secretary V Srinivas on Monday, September 21, reviewed the maternal deaths reported in Udaipur district and directed that a team from the Directorate of Medical and Health Services be sent to the district to conduct a detailed review of the arrangements and individual cases. He said that, along with identifying high-risk pregnant women, it must be ensured that they receive quality antenatal examinations and timely treatment.
The Chief Secretary was reviewing maternal deaths reported across the State between September 6 and September 17 on a hospital-wise basis during a review meeting at Swasthya Bhawan in Jaipur. According to him, timely identification of high-risk pregnant women, regular follow-up and antenatal care services has caused a dip in maternal deaths in September compared with August. There were 73 maternal deaths last month, while the number fell to 35 in September.
Srinivas has directed that the availability and requirement of specialist doctors in all medical institutions across the State be assessed and the recruitment process initiated accordingly. He asked officials to give special attention to the upgradation of modular OTs in medical colleges. Where additional modular OTs are required, the process of increasing their number should be initiated, and proposals be sent to the Union Ministry of Health for budgetary support wherever necessary.
The Prasav Sakhi programme, launched to facilitate pregnant women, is an important initiative and should be implemented more effectively in hospitals, said Srinivas. He also directed officials to regularly review the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) operating in medical colleges, as well as Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) and NICUs in district hospitals and community health centres.
Medical and Health Principal Secretary Gayatri Rathore said that high-risk pregnant women should receive all four antenatal check-ups on time. She also stressed the need to strengthen referral services.
