Explore the rising cases of maternity care negligence in Madhya Pradesh, where repeated ambulance failures and hospital staff shortages have forced women into roadside deliveries and undignified births, raising serious concerns about public healthcare accountability.
New Delhi: In a disturbing incident from Gwalior, Deepa Prajapati, who lives in a village in the Bitharwar area, suddenly went into severe labor pain. Her husband immediately called the Janani Express ambulance service for help, but the driver reportedly refused to come, saying there was a network problem. The family also tried to contact the 108 emergency ambulance service, but they could not get through. With no other option left, they arranged an e-rickshaw and rushed her to the nearest Government Community Health Center.
When they reached the hospital, things became even worse. According to the family, there was no proper arrangement for handling such emergencies. They said there was no female doctor, no duty doctor, and not enough staff present at the hospital. When a family member asked for help, he was allegedly treated rudely and even told to “shut up.” After waiting for around 10 minutes, only one nurse arrived. By that time, Deepa had already delivered her baby on the e-rickshaw inside the hospital premises. The baby was in a breech position, which is risky during delivery, but thankfully both the mother and child survived without any serious complications.
Allegations of Ongoing Problems in Madhya Pradesh’s Healthcare System
This incident highlights the repeated problems in public healthcare, especially in rural and semi-urban areas like Bitharwar in Madhya Pradesh. The ambulance services run by the government are meant to help pregnant women during emergencies, but in this case, they failed to respond. Because of this, the family had to manage on their own. The shortage of hospital staff made the situation even more critical. Similar complaints have been reported from nearby districts in recent times.
Deepa’s family expressed anger and disappointment over what happened. They said that if medical help had arrived on time, she would not have had to give birth in such conditions. Her husband said they tried calling the 108 ambulance service but could not connect. The family accused the hospital of not having a female doctor, no duty doctor, and not enough staff during such an important moment.
No Official Statement or Investigation So Far
So far, neither the Gwalior district health authorities nor the Madhya Pradesh government has given any official statement about the incident. No investigation has been announced, and hospital officials have not publicly responded to the allegations. This silence raises serious questions about monitoring and accountability at community health centers, which are supposed to provide proper maternity care under government schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana.
Health experts say that while such cases may not happen every day, they show bigger problems like shortage of ambulances and staff being absent from duty in Madhya Pradesh. A similar incident happened last month in Vidisha district, where a woman had to give birth on the roadside because of ambulance delays. Although a local inquiry was conducted in that case, there have been no reports of major reforms to fix the system.
Demand for Better Maternity Care
After this incident in Gwalior, discussions have started on social media and among health activists, though there have been no large protests or major national coverage. Experts suggest that to avoid such incidents in the future, there should be strict monitoring of ambulance services, compulsory 24/7 staff availability at community health centers, and strict action against those found negligent.
For now, Deepa Prajapati and her newborn baby are safe. However, this incident clearly shows the weaknesses in India’s maternal healthcare system and highlights the urgent need for authorities to investigate and take corrective action.
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Mansi Sharma is a journalist covering Global Affairs, and wellness, known for turning complex ideas into sharp, engaging narratives. Her work is driven by curiosity, depth, and a constant urge to question and explore. When she’s not writing, you’ll often find her diving into new ideas—preferably with a cup of coffee in hand, one sip at a time.