Harish Rao Seeks Probe After Women Develop Infections Following C-Sections at NIMS
Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao has called for a comprehensive investigation into reports that several women developed serious infections after undergoing Caesarean deliveries at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad.
Harish Rao visited the hospital on Monday, July 20, and spoke to the affected patients and their attendants. Addressing reporters afterwards, he alleged that the Telangana government had failed to order a timely inquiry into the incident and accused the authorities of attempting to keep the matter from receiving public attention.
According to the BRS leader, six women underwent C-section procedures in an operation theatre at NIMS on July 10. He said the patients subsequently developed health complications, including fever, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Harish Rao further claimed that four additional women fell ill after Caesarean procedures were conducted in the same operation theatre the following day. He questioned why the facility was allegedly reused before officials had determined what caused the earlier patients to become unwell.
The allegations have raised concerns over infection-control practices and patient safety at the state-run hospital. However, the precise cause of the reported infections has not been officially established in the account reviewed, and no inquiry findings were cited.
Harish Rao said attendants of some patients had raised concerns with him about the maintenance of the operation theatre and surgical equipment. He also referred to an allegation from another attendant that expired medicines may have been administered. These claims remain allegations and would require verification through medical records, laboratory tests and an official investigation.
The former Telangana health minister also questioned why senior hospital officials or the state’s health leadership had not met the affected women during the ten days following the reported incident.
He demanded that the government constitute a detailed inquiry to identify how the patients developed similar symptoms after their deliveries. Harish Rao also sought strict action against any officials or medical personnel found responsible if negligence or violations of hospital protocols are established.
Post-operative infections can arise from several possible factors, and determining their origin generally requires a clinical review, testing of samples, examination of sterilisation procedures and assessment of the medicines and equipment used. Until such an investigation is completed, responsibility for the reported illnesses cannot be conclusively assigned.
The controversy is likely to increase pressure on the state government and NIMS authorities to publicly explain the sequence of events, disclose the condition of the affected patients and clarify whether infection-control measures were reviewed after the first cases were reported.
As of the source report’s publication, a detailed official response from NIMS or the Telangana government addressing the allegations was not included.
