West Bengal health dept recalls saline, critical drugs supplied by 2nd blacklisted company
Times of India | 1 February 2025
KOLKATA: Bengal health department on Friday recalled all types of saline and several drugs manufactured and supplied by Pharma Impex Laboratories and directed govt hospitals and CMOH of all districts to stop their use immediately. The hospitals have been asked to procure the saline and drugs locally till another supplier is finalised.
TOI had reported in its Friday edition that the health department had asked Pharma Impex to stop production after a joint team from the central and state drug control inspected the unit's Baruipur plant and found gross violation of manufacturing standards.Budget 2025 UpdatesBudget 2025 Live Updates: President Murmu offers 'dahi-cheeni' to FM Nirmala SitharamanIncome Tax Slabs 2025-26 Budget 2025 Live UpdatesAll eyes on Union Budget 2025; key numbers to watch out forThe company was the prime supplier of saline to govt hospitals after the state banned Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals from producing and supplying Ringer's lactate and other drugs after a woman died after childbirth at Midnapore Medical College on Jan 10.
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Among the 17 recalled medication are eight types of saline, including a specific electrolyte solution meant for paediatric patients used in the treatment of dehydration, a paracetamol infusion and antibiotic drugs used in the treatment of bacterial infections, either in capsule or injectable form.
"Till Thursday, there was confusion over what to do with the blacklisted company's supplies that are in stock. Since the directive has come today with a clear list of the drugs that are not to be used, we have recalled these medication," said an administrator of a medical college in Kolkata.
‘Patients may have to buy drugs on their own for now’
The drugs on the recalled list were supplied by Pharma Impex directly to the Central Medical Stores, from where these were sent to the different govt hospitals. Now, the hospitals have been told to procure the replacement locally from available hospital fund. They have been asked to requisition for funds, if required, for the purpose.
“We have stock of similar medication from other pharma companies, but recalling all stock from this particular company in one go will cause some hiccup for a day or two while we streamline the procurement process,” said the administrator of another medical college.
Doctors fear patients might have to procure some of these drugs on their own until the health department comes up with a permanent solution.
“While recalling of drugs to ensure proper quality is a welcome move, we fear a crisis with patients being forced to buy from outside. Saline is a foremost medicine for hospitals, and the impact of its shortage could fall on doctors, especially in emergency cases if doctors ask patients to procure it on their own,” said surgery professor Manas Gumta of Association of Health Service Doctors.