Calcium Gluconate

Indore: Govt doctors on Friday burned copies of reports detailing instances of substandard medications found in various hospitals, raising concerns over distribution of substandard medicines , including lifesaving drugs, in state-run hospitals and highlighting the severity of the issue. The doctors showed the report of specified batches of some medicines, including atropine sulphate, noradrenaline, calcium gluconate, aminophylline, ORS WHO powder, calcium with vitamin D3, and even intravenous sets, that were found to be of substandard quality in the lab test. Registering their protest on MYH campus, the doctors alleged that the medications were not only affecting the health of patients but also putting them in a tough situation before their attendants. Dr Rahul Rokade, president of Medical Teachers' Association at MGM Medical College , said substandard medicines in govt hospitals are jeopardising patients' lives and creating significant challenges for doctors. "Medicines are supposed to be life savers, but their poor quality make them ineffective," Dr Rahul Rokade said. Ineffective medicines make it difficult for doctors to accurately assess patients' conditions and determine the actual cause of death, he explained. The protesting doctors explained that the substandard medicines were causing antimicrobial resistance, endangering the lives of patients, while also causing them to face the rage of patients' attendants. They demanding a complete ban on procurement of such medicines, blacklisting of the companies responsible, and the filing of FIRs against them. They have also called for life imprisonment against manufacturers of substandard medicines to deter future occurrences and protect patient safety . They have urged govt to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards supply of substandard medicines. Intensifying their protest the doctors across the state will observe a day-long fast on Feb 22, the day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bageshwar Dham in Chhatarpur district. This fast will bring attention to their long-standing demands, including substandard medicine supplies, benefits from the Seventh Pay Commission, time-scale promotions and improved security for doctors in hospitals among others. The doctors have also announced plans to suspend routine services for one hour on Feb 24, coinciding with the Prime Minister's attendance at the Global Investors' Summit in Bhopal.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has said that nine injectable drugs manufactured in other states have failed the sterility tests done in the Karnataka government's laboratories. In a letter sent to the Union Health Minister J P Nadda, he said he has instructed officials of his department to take steps to ensure that these drugs are no longer sold in Karnataka. The medicines that failed sterility tests are: Metronidazole injection manufactured by Pharma Impex Laboratories, Baruipur in West Bengal; Diclofenac Sodium Injection by Alpha Laboratories in Indore (MP); Dextrose injection by Rusoma Laboratories in Indore (MP); Metronidazole by IHL Lifesciences Private Limited in Khargone (MP); Frusemide by Paksons Pharmaceuticals at Bahadurgarh in Haryana; Piperacillin and Tazobactam by Modern Laboratories in Indore (MP); Calcium Gluconate and Ondansetron by Regain Laboratories at Hisar in Haryana; and Astropine Sulphate produced by Martin and Brown Biosciences at Solan in Himachal Pradesh, Dinesh Gundu Rao said in his letter sent on Thursday. "I am writing to bring your attention to the repeated instances of sale within Karnataka of contaminated injectable drugs manufactured in other states," Rao wrote to Nadda. Between 1 January 2025 and 16 February 2025, nine injectable drugs manufactured in other states failed 'sterility testing' in Karnataka government's laboratories, he explained. Sharing the details of the drugs along with batch numbers in his letter, Rao pointed out that the list did not include 'numerous injectables' manufactured by Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals based in West Bengal, "whose contaminated injectables caused the deaths of five young mothers in Ballari district of Karnataka". "While I am instructing my department to take adequate steps to ensure these drugs are no longer sold within Karnataka, it is highly likely that other contaminated drugs manufactured by these companies are being sold in other states in India," the Minister said. He said injectables are used in acute care and therefore are high risk to patients. "Given the 'life or death' consequences for patients being administered these contaminated drugs, I request you to use your good offices to ensure that all products sold by these companies are withdrawn from the market across India and that these companies are not allowed to sell any more drugs until they are inspected by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)," the Minister told Nadda. He also requested the Union Minister to create a system for all states and central laboratories to share alerts with each other regarding drugs, which have failed quality testing, especially those failures which could potentially cause serious adverse events for patients. "In addition to sharing alerts, there should also be a legal requirement to share sales records from the manufacturer to enable seizure of the contaminated drugs from the supply chain before they are dispensed to patients," Rao said. "Lastly, we need a system to alert doctors, pharmacists and patients about the drugs that are failing testing in our respective testing laboratories. My department would be glad to assist in this regard," the Minister said.>