A disturbing discovery in one northwest Indian hospital. Fake medical fluids were found in one ward of the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur city. Earlier this year more than a dozen women died at two other hospitals in the city after they were given fake IV fluids.
Acting on a tip, drug controllers seized fake glucose and intravenous fluids during a raid at a hospital in India's northwestern state of Rajasthan on Thursday.
Officials raided Jodhpur city's Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and have seized over 300 bottles of fluids suspected of contamination.
[Narendra Shekhawat, Drug Control Official]:
"We learned that glucose manufactured by Parental Surgical Limited is still being sold in the market. Based on this information we raided the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, during which statements from patients who were being given these fluids were recorded. The hospital ward was inspected during which bottles of Parental Surgical Limited have been recovered."
After the state government stepped in, the bogus fluids were lifted from the market by drug controllers.
Hospital officials say they will clamp down on those responsible.
[Dr. Arvind Mathur, Director, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital]:
"On the basis of their preliminary investigation, they presented their reports later, but during the inspection some IV (intravenous) fluid bottles of the company have been recovered from the cupboard of the ward in-charge. Under immediate disciplinary actions, we are sending the ward in-charge to the joint director for his suspension."
At least 17 maternal deaths occurred after patients were injected with contaminated fluids and glucose at two government hospitals of the city earlier this year.
The women died post-delivery after their health deteriorated drastically after being administered fake IV fluids.
