Mamata Banerjee orders Quarterly expiry checks for medicines, salines at all hospitals

Kolkata: To prevent any further deaths due to the alleged use of expired saline following the tragedy at Midnapore Medical College, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a directive to all medical colleges and hospitals to conduct stock-taking exercises every three months. This will ensure that medicines and saline are replaced before their expiry dates.

Speaking at a special gathering at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, attended by junior and senior doctors, along with top officials from various medical colleges, Banerjee said, “Principals and superintendents should carry out stock-taking exercises in the hospitals every three months to make sure that there are no expired medicines."

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The directive came after a 21-year-old woman passed away following childbirth at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal's Paschim Midnapore following which her family members raised serious concerns about the saline administered to her during treatment. The drug also left four others critically ill who were shifted to state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital in South Kolkata following a sharp deterioration in their medical conditions.

Medical Dialogues reported that the state health department directed all the state medical colleges and hospitals to ban the use of 10 intravenous fluids to ensure patient safety. The banned fluids include Ringer Lactate, Ringer Solution, dextrose injection, ofloxacin, and sodium chloride irrigation solution among others.

In addition to addressing medical safety, Banerjee also urged the principals and superintendents of various medical colleges to ensure that the air-conditioning (AC) machines are working properly and the nursing hostels and ladies’ washrooms in the hospitals are in good shape.

“I would request the principals and superintendents of medical colleges to keep a tab if all the AC machines are working properly and they need to call the PWD if required. It is to be looked after if there is any water leakage in the nursing hostels or if the women's health staff are inconvenienced due to any washroom-related issues or if they have any grievances,” she added as reported by Millennium Post. 

The Chief Minister also encouraged doctors to voice their grievances, assuring them they could approach their principals, the Chief Secretary, or the Health Secretary for solutions to their problems. 

“I urge Nigam to ensure that there is no difference of opinion among the officials in his department. I have given you (Nigam) 8-10 IAS officers and doctors are also there. Please ensure better coordination. Many works have been done in the health sector. Some people tend to defame us for one or two small errors. I was hurt when I heard that somebody at the Supreme Court said that gauzes are not available in Bengal’s hospitals,” Banerjee said.

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