Patna: Serious gaps in post-delivery monitoring, emergency treatment and referral services in Bihar have come under scrutiny, with recent maternal and newborn deaths in Jamui, Darbhanga and West Champaran raising concerns about the state’s healthcare system. Findings in a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report for 2024 also point to shortcomings in postnatal care and the review of maternal deaths.
According to the report, district hospitals in Bihar failed to ensure that mothers remained under hospital care for 48 hours after delivery in 73% to 83% of cases annually between 2016-17 and 2022-23.
The audit also found that, among 20 health institutions examined, 16 failed to keep women in hospital for the recommended 48 hours after delivery in 97% to 100% of cases during 2016-17 to 2021-22.
The findings highlight concerns over the monitoring of mothers during the critical period immediately after childbirth, when complications can require urgent medical intervention.
Only One of 24 Maternal Deaths Reviewed Within Prescribed Time
The CAG report identified major shortcomings in the review of maternal deaths, a process intended to establish the causes of deaths and identify gaps in medical care.
During 2016-17 to 2021-22, 24 maternal deaths were recorded across 16 audited health institutions. However, only one case was reviewed within the prescribed time limit, according to the report.
The audit also pointed to gaps in maintaining maternal death registers and the functioning of review mechanisms at health institutions.
Maternal death reviews help identify potential failures in treatment, blood availability, referral arrangements and patient monitoring. Such assessments are intended to guide corrective measures and prevent similar deaths in the future.
Recent Cases in Bihar Raise Questions Over Maternal Care
Recent incidents in different parts of Bihar have brought the concerns surrounding maternal and newborn care into focus.
Jamui: Two women who had recently given birth died within hours of each other at Jamui Sadar Hospital on October 4, 2026. According to the available details, Anita reached the hospital at around 11 pm and died the following morning. A second woman, Aastha, reportedly developed complications after a Caesarean section and died.
Darbhanga: On September 16, 2026, Anjali Kumari and her newborn died at a private surgical and trauma centre in Bahedi. Following an investigation, the facility was sealed.
West Champaran: On September 27, 2026, a woman who had been examined and sent home from Narkatiaganj Sub-Divisional Hospital delivered her baby inside an ambulance. The newborn died, and the family alleged medical negligence.
The circumstances of these incidents are separate, and the available information does not establish that the deaths were directly caused by the shortcomings identified in the CAG audit.
Postnatal Care Essential for Six Weeks After Delivery
Dr Geeta Sinha, principal of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and a gynaecologist, said maternal care remains essential for six weeks, or 42 days, after childbirth.
She emphasised the need for regular monitoring, particularly during the first 48 hours after delivery. This includes checking bleeding, blood pressure, pulse and body temperature.
Healthcare providers must also look for signs of infection and anaemia and examine Caesarean-section wounds for possible complications.
Before discharge, women and their families should receive clear information about warning signs that require immediate medical attention, prescribed medicines, nutrition and follow-up appointments.
The CAG findings and the recent incidents underline the importance of strengthening postnatal monitoring, timely referrals and systematic reviews of maternal deaths to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in Bihar.
