BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 17th January 2025: The Tripura Health and Family Welfare Department has announced an immediate ban on the use of any intravenous (IV) fluids produced by West Bengal Pharmaceutical in 2023. The decision comes after reports of four lactating mothers’ deaths following the administration of Compound Sodium Lactate Injection (Ringer Lactate Solution) in a hospital in Ballari, Karnataka, in late November 2024.
In response to the issue, the Deputy Drug Controller carried out inspections at various pharmacies throughout Tripura. A health official confirmed that there was no shortage of saline in the state’s major hospitals, GB Pant (GBP) and IGM, due to sufficient stock available in the Central Medical Store.
“The department acted promptly after receiving complaints related to West Bengal Pharmaceutical’s products. Following the deaths in Karnataka, raids were conducted, but the problematic saline was not found in any local stores. However, four batches of the Ringer Lactate solution were discovered at GBP Hospital, and samples were collected on December 4, 2024,” the official stated.
The Tripura government has sent the samples for analysis to the Regional Testing Laboratory in Guwahati, with results still awaited.
In the meantime, due to concerns over the safety of saline solutions like DNS, NS, and RL from West Bengal Pharmaceutical, GBP Hospital’s Superintendent issued a temporary ban on their use on January 15, 2025. To prevent shortages, the Family Welfare and Immunization Department provided 10,000 units of Normal Saline (NS), 5,000 units of Dextrose Normal Saline (DNS), and 5,000 units of Ringer Lactate (RL). Additionally, the Health Department supplied 4,000 units of NS, 2,000 units of DNS, and 3,000 units of RL.
IGM Hospital has confirmed it does not have any of the affected Ringer Lactate Solution in its stock. The Medical Superintendent of IGM has also issued a directive to temporarily halt the use of 2023 IV fluids from West Bengal Pharmaceutical. To mitigate any inconvenience for patients, 2,600 IV fluids were sent to IGM Hospital from the Central Medical Store today.
