Substandard Saline 'attacks' high profile patient at GMC | Comm/Secy Law administered 'deadly' solution, timely intervention of docs saves life | | Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report JAMMU, Apr 23: A top bureaucrat who was rushed to Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) here on Friday night for treatment had a close shave as the administration of "sub-standard saline" in the health institution led to his condition get worsened but the timely intervention of the doctors saved his life. Sources said that last night Commissioner/Secretary to the government Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, was admitted at GMC for some illness, but his condition worsened after fluid was administered to him. "Later, senior doctors were called and life-saving drugs were administrated to him," the doctor said, while regretting the callous approach of the state government. Its in place to mention here that Early Times has carried a series of news stories about "substandard Saline" being administered to patients at GMCH here. Prior to this case, many cases were reported about Saline causing reaction but till date no action has been taken to prevent such incidents from recurring. Last month nearly five patients developed complications in a day after the fluid was administered to them. On April 15, when the first incident of reaction took place, a committee was constituted, but it seems it was mere eyewash as nothing has been done so far, and fluid reactions continued in the hospital. Meanwhile, the general public has questioned the continued silence of the authorities over the issue. They said that if the authorities fail to take any concrete action, the situation might go from bad to worse. The people also asked the authorities to learn lesson from the tragedy that struck at GB Pant Hospital for Children in Srinagar two years ago as many infants died after they were given substandard drugs. "The GMC&H authorities are perhaps waiting for a Srinagar-like tragedy to happen before they wake up from the slumber," a senior medico told Early Times. Medical Superintendent of GMC&H, Dr Ravinder Rattan Pal, couldn't be contacted for his comment. |
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