Jaipur, June 24 -- The Rajasthan Health Department has suspended the use of 25 medicines and injections, including intravenous drips administered to women during cesarean deliveries, after several women developed kidney failure and other serious complications following C-sections at Jodhpur's Paota District Hospital. Samples of all the medicines have been collected and their use has been halted until laboratory reports are received. Taking serious note of the incident, Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Gayatri Rathore reached Jodhpur late Monday night and conducted an extensive review of the situation. AIIMS Jodhpur has also constituted a high-level committee to carry out an independent inquiry into the matter. The incident has triggered concern within the health department as it comes amid scrutiny over maternal healthcare services following the deaths of seven pregnant women in Rajasthan in recent weeks, including five in Kota and two in Bikaner. Rathore said the government was placing special emphasis on ensuring 100% compliance with standard medical protocols (SOPs) in all hospitals across the state. She said a comprehensive review would be undertaken with doctors covering safe storage of medicines, nursing duties, post-operative care and regular monitoring of critically ill patients to minimise the possibility of errors and ensure timely medical intervention whenever required. She inspected Ummed Hospital and reviewed arrangements in the obstetrics department, labour room, operation theatres and post-operative wards. She directed officials to strengthen healthcare services and ensure strict adherence to medical protocols. Addressing newspersons, Rathore said Ummed Hospital was among Rajasthan's premier maternal healthcare institutions, handling nearly 25,000 deliveries annually, including a large number of high-risk and cesarean cases. "Maintaining public confidence in the hospital and ensuring safe and quality treatment for every patient is the government's highest priority," she said. During the visit, she also interacted with pregnant women, doctors and nursing staff and reviewed treatment facilities and protocol compliance. Meanwhile, health authorities have identified 25 medicines and injections as suspicious and suspended their use pending test results. Among them is sodium lactate infusion, a drip commonly administered before and after cesarean deliveries. Dr Kulbir Chopra, Principal Medical Officer of Paota District Hospital, said the batch under scrutiny had been supplied only a week ago and was used for the first time on eight women on Saturday. "This drip is routinely administered during cesarean procedures. The batch was received seven days ago and was used on eight women for the first time on Saturday. The medical department is treating these medicines as suspicious and all operations have been stopped as a precautionary measure. Further clarity will emerge only after the laboratory reports are received," Chopra said....