In the wake of children's deaths, questions about the quality of medicines arise again in Madhya Pradesh. The latest case involves a shocking discovery at a government hospital in Murar, Gwalior, where insects were found in a bottle of the antibiotic Azithromycin. This is the very medication commonly prescribed for children with infections.
Insects Found in Antibiotic Bottle
According to a news agency report, a woman from Murar reported insects in the antibiotic bottle her child received from the hospital. When she brought the opened bottle back to the hospital, it led to an immediate uproar among the health workers. Given the gravity of the situation, an immediate investigation was launched, leading to the seizure of all 306 bottles available at the hospital.
Drug Inspector Anubhuti Sharma stated that the medicine is produced by a company based in Madhya Pradesh and has been sent to the state laboratory in Bhopal for testing. A few samples will also be sent to the Central Drug Lab in Kolkata to ensure a thorough quality check.
Entire Stock of Medication Put on Hold
Initial checks did not reveal insects in several bottles, but the department insists that no conclusions can be drawn without laboratory reports. Meanwhile, all consignments of Azithromycin in the hospital have been suspended from use.
This incident surfaces at a sensitive time when the state was shaken by the deaths of 24 children, allegedly linked to the consumption of a toxic cough syrup, 'Coldrif.' The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared three Indian-manufactured cough syrups, Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife, as “substandard” and issued a warning.
This event in Gwalior casts severe doubts over the drug manufacturing and supervision processes in the state. The health department has stated that if guilt is established post investigation, strict actions will be taken against the company involved.
