Jaipur: Following two patient fatalities in the post-operative gynaecology ward at New Medical College and Hospital in Kota, Rajasthan, the state's food safety and drug control commissionerate has issued an urgent directive to halt the sale and distribution of specific batches of 24 drugs and medical products used during treatment.
Investigation and Sampling
Drug control officers from Kota and Bundi collected samples from the hospital to assess their quality, safety, and compliance under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and related regulations. A senior health department official stated, "Pending laboratory analysis by the government analyst, manufacturers, carrying and forwarding agents, stockists, wholesalers, and the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited have been directed not to sell, distribute, or supply the listed batches anywhere in Rajasthan."
Enforcement and Legal Action
The order requires all entities in the supply chain to inform buyers who may have already received these batches and ensure the temporary stoppage is enforced without fail. Officials warned that any violation will invite legal action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
According to the health department, this action is precautionary and specifically linked to the listed batches, not a blanket ban on the products themselves. The stoppage will remain in force until legal test reports are received. The directive has been marked "most urgent," underscoring the seriousness of the Kota hospital deaths and the state's effort to prevent further risk to patients.
List of Affected Batches
- Diclodeer Injection 3 ml, batch DC225077, manufactured by Dueful Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Jaipur
- ThemiDol Tramadol Injection 50 mg/ml, batch ARTMD2504, by Themis Medicare Ltd, Gujarat
- Tocin 1 ml Injection, batch 1-7881, by Jackson Laboratories Pvt Ltd, Amritsar
- Tocin 1 ml Injection, batch 1-8386, also by Jackson Laboratories
- Vomitcare Ondansetron Injection, batch SAI-25713F, by Sunvet Healthcare, Himachal Pradesh
- BUPIARC Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection IP 0.5% w/v, batch BG26F1, by Arco Lifesciences, Nagpur
- BUPIARC-DEXT Bupivacaine Hydrochloride in Dextrose Injection USP, batch BD26J3, by Arco Lifesciences
- Medicath IV Catheter with integrated 3-way stop cock, batch 25K3014, by Global Medikit Ltd, Dehradun
- Activein+ disposable syringe 5 ml with needle, batch AC5D2611, by Shreyansh Healthcare Pvt Ltd
State-Wide Impact
Drugs supplied for free distribution to patients across the state by the state government are withheld from release until receipt of legal test reports or further orders. Authorities emphasize that the measure is temporary and aimed at ensuring patient safety.
