Emergency maternity care directives issued in Haryana after Faridabad health centre incident

After a reported Faridabad incident where a woman delivered near a facility gate, the Haryana Health Department issued statewide directives. Additional Chief Secretary Sumita Misra ordered timely and dignified maternity care, 24x7 open entry gates, and round-the-clock ambulance availability at First Referral Units. High-load centres must keep dedicated emergency ambulances with essential medicines and equipment.

The Haryana Health Department issued fresh instructions after a woman reportedly gave birth near the entry gate of a health centre in Faridabad. Officials said the directions aimed to tighten emergency response, staff availability and delivery care in government facilities across the state. The advisory went to all civil surgeons on Monday, days after the reported incident.

Officials said Additional Chief Secretary for Health and Family Welfare Sumita Misra ordered immediate corrective steps. Misra asked health authorities to ensure every pregnant woman receives timely care and dignified treatment at government health facilities. The state also told facilities to provide uninterrupted medical support during emergencies, after taking cognisance of the Faridabad case.

Haryana Health Department orders ambulances and open gates

Misra directed all First Referral Units to keep at least one fully equipped ambulance available round-the-clock. Facilities with heavy delivery loads were told to arrange dedicated emergency ambulances. These vehicles must carry essential medicines and medical equipment for maternal care services. The department also ordered all public health facilities to keep main entry gates open 24x7.

The department also flagged safety for night-duty staff at Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres. Officials said safer workplaces can support smoother emergency care. Along with security, the focus remained on keeping services active at night. The instructions were meant to improve patient access and reduce delays during emergencies.

Haryana Health Department tightens nursing staff and inspections

All 24x7 health facilities were instructed to ensure staff nurses remain physically present for delivery care at all times. Facility in-charges and district-level NHM teams were told to carry out random night inspections. The department said this monitoring would help ensure services run without interruptions and follow the updated directions.

To meet manpower needs, district authorities were asked to deploy extra nursing staff from other facilities where shortages are found. Civil Surgeons received a three-day timeline to ensure no delivery point stays understaffed. Officials said Misra stressed the purpose was to raise service standards and improve maternal healthcare at grassroots level.

Haryana Health Department action follows Faridabad delivery outside gate

The reported incident happened on Friday night, according to the woman’s family. The family alleged the front gate to the OPD was shut when they arrived. They then tried the rear gate near the Emergency section, but the ground floor gate there was also locked. The family said the woman delivered outside before staff reached.

Chaman, a relative of the woman, told reporters in Faridabad that they reached the health centre in Faridabad at around 1.30 am. "I came to the hospital with my sister-in-law. She was unable to walk due to labour pain, so she sat on the floor. I knocked at the gates of the OPD, but no one came. When I reached the gate to the Emergency, I found a wheelchair, but she couldnt sit on it due to pain. There was no staff on the ground floor. Fifteen minutes were lost in this process, he said. The delivery took place on the road before the doctor and the nurse reached there, he said.\"

The family alleged the delivery happened using the flashlight from their mobile phones. The woman and the baby were later taken inside the health centre and admitted. The health department also formed a committee after the incident. Officials said this followed allegations of negligent behaviour by some health centre staff.

With inputs from PTI