Five maternal deaths in a week at Hyderabad's Niloufer hospital, C-sections stalled

In an incident that reflects the medical standards of the state's government hospitals, five mothers died at the Niloufer hospital in Hyderabad in a single week, while delivering their babies. 

The deaths, which came to light on Monday, occurred between January 28 and February 4. All the patients who died, had undergone a C-section surgery.

Following a large protest by the relatives of one of the deceased at the hospital premises on Monday, alleging negligence, the police was rushed in to bring the situation under control.

As of now, the hospital has temporarily stayed all C-section deliveries, and had also formed a three-member committee to probe the deaths.

State Health Minister Dr Laxma Reddy is also reported to have been briefed about the situation, and the director of medical education, Dr M Ramani, went to the hospital to take stock of the situation on the minister's instructions.

“The committee has gone into all the details to determine the cause. The operation theatres were shut on Sunday. Swabs were taken for testing to detect possible contamination and fumigation was done,” Ramani told The Hindu.

While the families of the deceased allege that the deaths were caused by negligence, the hospital feels otherwise.

It has claimed that 44 C-section surgeries took place during the same time.

Speaking to the Times of India, hospital sources claimed that all the five deceased had multiple complications like anaemia, amniotic fluid embolism, hypertension and obesity, while four had repeat C-sections.

Until the reasons for the deaths are established, all such cases have been reportedly directed to the Modern Government Maternity Hospital in Petlaburj.