Drug doses at government hospital found contaminated

Several doses of the Ranitidine injectible drug were found to be contaminated with a black residue at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here last week. The hospital had received 80,000 doses in a consignment and administered 20,000 to patients between October 10 and November 24.

The inquiry report of the local office of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is awaited, GMCH dean Kanan Yelikar said.

On October 10, GMCH received the consignment through Haffkine Bio Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd’s centralised drug procurement system. On November 22, while administering the drug in the labour room, doctors noticed black residue in the ampoules.

GMCH deputy dean Shivaji Sukre said over 58,000 doses were recalled till Thursday. “The remaining doses have been used. However, no complaints regarding side-effects have been received so far,” he said.

Sukre said the same day, the hospital had informed the state government through the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Haffkine and all other government medical colleges and hospitals in the state about the residue in the ampoules.

FDA joint commissioner Sanjay Kale said, “Use of the drug has been prohibited in all hospitals. Samples have been sent for analysis. It will take at least 15 days for the report to come following which further action can be taken,” Kale said.

Haffkine has issued a showcause notice to Indore-based drug manufacturer Nandini Biomedical Lab. —Arpita Sharad