Jaipur, June 18 -- Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday described the postpartum deaths in Kota as a "very serious" matter and urged the state government to treat the case as an exceptional public health crisis, provide immediate financial assistance to affected families, and make public all investigation reports. Addressing reporters after meeting patients and their families, Gehlot questioned the delay in determining the cause behind the deaths and kidney complications reported among women who underwent deliveries in government hospitals. "The first cases emerged on May 4 and it has now been nearly one-and-a-half months. Four women have died, yet the FSL report is still awaited. Doctors say such reports can take four to six months. The government should find out whether the process can be expedited or whether the samples can be examined elsewhere in the country on an emergency basis". Gehlot said five women remain hospitalised and all are suffering from varying degrees of kidney damage. Some require dialysis three times a week, while others need it once or twice weekly. "Every affected family is poor. I did not come across a single family capable of bearing the long-term financial burden of treatment. In one case, a son who worked as a taxi driver has stopped working to care for his mother," he said. The Congress leader welcomed the fact that expert teams from AIIMS and the state government had visited Kota, but questioned why their findings had not been shared publicly. "Doctors themselves say they do not know what caused this condition. The public has a right to know whether there was any deficiency in medicines, treatment protocols or patient care. If the same medicines are being used in private hospitals and such cases have not emerged there, then why did this happen here?" he asked. Referring to deaths reported at JK Lone Hospital and MBS Hospital, Gehlot said the government must investigate the root cause instead of limiting its response to free treatment. "The most important task for the government is to get to the bottom of why these women died and why others are still suffering. Unless that is established, the issue cannot move forward," he said. Gehlot also called for immediate ex-gratia assistance to affected families through the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. He suggested that the government consider providing additional support, including branded medicines if families have concerns about treatment, even though generic medicines are equally effective. "These families have been suffering for over a month. They are demoralised and worried about their future. Some fear they may require lifelong dialysis. The government should provide them confidence, assistance and the best possible treatment," he said. The former chief minister further urged the state government to seek expert medical opinions from leading institutions in Delhi and Mumbai and, if necessary, shift patients there for specialised treatment. "There should be no ego or hesitation in consulting experts from outside Rajasthan. If doctors in Delhi or Mumbai have experience with similar cases, their guidance should be sought immediately," he said. Responding to reports that inquiry findings may already have been submitted but not disclosed, he said all reports prepared by AIIMS or the state government should be made public. "The government must share what has happened, what steps are being taken and why this situation arose in a government hospital. It must accept full responsibility," he said. Gehlot also warned that the incident could erode public confidence in government healthcare facilities, particularly among pregnant women. "Women coming for deliveries and their families are naturally worried. The government should reassure them that the situation has been fully reviewed and that such an incident will not recur in the future," he said, adding that reports of similar concerns emerging from Bikaner made the matter even more urgent....