Samples of an epilepsy drug collected from a Delhi authorities facility have been discovered spurious in a take a look at performed at a authorities laboratory, sources stated Wednesday.
The samples of sodium valproate, crucial for managing epilepsy and seizures, had been discovered spurious in the course of the ongoing examination of medication undertaken after Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena advisable a CBI inquiry into the alleged provide of non-standard medicine—together with some live-saving medicines—to Delhi authorities hospitals and the AAP’s flagship Mohalla Clinics.
In accordance with sources, the epilepsy drug samples had been discovered to have failed the exams on the Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (RDTL), Chandigarh. A sequence of medicines being supplied to sufferers at hospitals underneath the Delhi authorities and Mohalla Clinics had been “not assembly the requirements”, they added.
“Sodium Valproate was discovered to be not assembly the requirements…The drug is being provided in Delhi authorities hospitals and was discovered to be of ‘not of ordinary high quality’ in a report issued by the federal government analyst, that’s the RDTL, on twenty second December 2023,” a supply stated.
In accordance with the sources, the take a look at report said that the pattern was “not of ordinary high quality as outlined within the Medicine and Cosmetics Act, 1940…” because it didn’t conform to the “declare as per IP 2022 in respect to the Dissolution of Sodium Valproate.” “Within the dissolution take a look at, out of 24 items seven items had been discovered lower than Q-15 and one unit was discovered lower than Q-25, as per IP 2022 the restrict of Q is NLT 75%…,” in response to the report.
Hitting again after Saxena’s allegations final week, Well being Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj sought the suspension of the well being secretary and different officers, claiming that no motion was taken on his route to conduct an audit of the medicines procured.
Elevating the problem in a observe to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, Saxena had connected a Directorate of Vigilance report on the matter.
Following complaints of “substandard medicines” being provided to Delhi authorities hospitals, the medicine controller underneath the well being division had despatched samples for testing. The lab experiences had been then despatched to the vigilance division for mandatory motion.
In accordance with officers, samples had been collected from three main hospitals—IHBAS (Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences), Lok Nayak Hospital and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.
The allegedly spurious medicine embrace cephalexin, a life-saving antibiotic for the remedy of lung and urinary tract infections; dexamethasone, a steroid for curing life-threatening irritation in lungs, joints and swelling within the physique; levetiracetam, an anti-epilepsy and anti-anxiety psychiatric drug; and amlodipine for hypertension.
The Vigilance report, reviewed by The Indian Express, says the lab experiences discovered that over 10 per cent of the samples had been discovered to be “not of ordinary high quality”. Of the 43 samples that had been despatched to authorities labs, three samples failed the take a look at whereas experiences on 12 samples are pending. Of one other 43 samples despatched to personal labs, 5 failed the take a look at.
The vigilance division advisable that since over 10 per cent samples had failed, distribution of such medicines ought to be stopped instantly and the scope of sampling ought to be elevated. It additionally sought to research the position of suppliers underneath the well being division, aside from the Central Procurement Company, that had procured the medicine.
Addressing a press convention, Bharadwaj had requested why the central authorities was not taking motion in opposition to Well being Secretary SB Deepak, who he stated was chargeable for drug procurement.
“I’ve issued a number of instructions in regards to the audit of those medicine however no action-taken report has been submitted by the officers… The Centre has ended the accountability of officers to the well being minister, so what extra can we do? The officers don’t take heed to our orders on the conferences,” Bharadwaj stated.