BHUBANESWAR: The State Drug Control Administration on Monday ordered withdrawal of a whole batch of artesunate injection supplied to Government hospitals by the Odisha State Medical Corporation (OSMC) following alleged detection of an insect in a vial at MKCG Medical College and Hospital (MCH), Berhampur.
Nurses and staff at the medical college found a dark object floating in a sealed vial when they were preparing an injection to be administered to a patient admitted at the Casualty ward on Sunday. When they drew the fluid into a syringe, it appeared to be an insect. The injection was immediately discarded and the hospital authorities were informed about it.
Acting on a report about the incident in this paper, a team of officials from the Drugs Control Administration on Monday rushed to the MKCGMCH to take stock of the situation. But, they found both the vial and syringe to have been discarded by the staff.
The State authorities, however, have ordered immediate withdrawal of the particular batch of artesunate injections and informed hospitals against using it on patients. Artesunate is used to treat malaria patients.
State Drugs Controller in-charge HK Mohapatra said samples of the batch of artesunate injections have been collected and sent for testing. Supply of drugs procured from the company to the hospitals has also been suspended till the test reports are received.
“That the hospital staff failed to preserve the contaminated sample for testing has complicated things. As a precautionary measure, all stocks of the particular batch have been grounded and will be withdrawn. If the test reports find any contamination, action will be taken as per law,” Mohapatra said.