Jaipur, May 8 (IANS) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the state government over the deaths of two women following complications after caesarean section procedures at Kota’s New Medical Hospital, alleging that Rajasthan’s healthcare system had “completely collapsed”.

In a strongly worded statement, Gehlot said the deaths of two new mothers and the critical condition of four other women were not isolated incidents, but the result of a steadily deteriorating public healthcare system in the state.

“It appears as though Rajasthan has been left entirely rudderless. The tragedy in Kota did not occur suddenly; it is the culmination of Rajasthan’s crumbling healthcare infrastructure,” Gehlot said.

Referring to previous incidents in government hospitals, the former Chief Minister alleged that repeated failures had gone unchecked because of a lack of accountability.

“The ICU fire at SMS Hospital and deaths caused by contaminated cough syrup were swept under the rug. As a result, fear and sensitivity within the system have completely eroded,” he said.

Gehlot further claimed that key welfare schemes introduced during the previous Congress government had been weakened under the current administration.

“Schemes like Chiranjeevi and RGHS have effectively been put on hold. Private hospitals are witnessing frequent strikes, and the entire healthcare structure has collapsed,” he alleged.

Targeting the government over the alleged procurement of substandard medicines, Gehlot said the deaths in Kota pointed to serious administrative negligence.

“The racket involving poor-quality medicines procured under the guise of ‘local purchases’ and the resulting deaths of mothers of innocent children are irrefutable proof of administrative failure. The objective of our Free Medicine Scheme was to save lives, but today negligence is claiming them,” he said.

The former Chief Minister urged the government to move beyond “paper-based inquiries” and ensure strict action against those responsible.

“Honourable Chief Minister, stop the charade of routine inquiries and take concrete action. If the culprits are shielded even now, the people of Rajasthan will never forgive this ‘murder by the system’,” Gehlot said.

The incident at Kota’s New Medical Hospital has triggered political outrage across Rajasthan, with opposition leaders demanding accountability and a high-level probe into the deaths and the alleged lapses in treatment.

–IANS

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