Blacklisted Gujarat Pharma Firm's Injection Causes Memory Loss in Pregnant Women

The incident, reported by News24, has sparked outrage in both healthcare and pharmaceutical circles and highlights significant lapses in drug storage, inventory control, and regulatory compliance.

Radiant Parenterals Limited, based in Gujarat, had already been blacklisted by health authorities in December 2024 following a complaint from Vidisha Medical College in October 2024 regarding the poor quality of an injectable product. The complaint led to a formal ban on the company’s product usage, with Radiant being debarred from government contracts for five years and blacklisted for two years. In addition, a fine of Rs 3.01 lakh was imposed.

The use of any injection manufactured by Radiant Parenterals was henceforth prohibited in government health institutions, as per official orders. The product was also blocked on government procurement portals to prevent further circulation.

Despite the ban, on February 25, 2025, 100 vials of the banned anesthetic injection—produced by Radiant—were allegedly taken from the hospital’s inventory and administered during deliveries. This action defied multiple safety norms and resulted in five pregnant women exhibiting symptoms of memory loss after the procedure.

The hospital administration discovered the lapse only during a post-incident probe and immediately seized 70 vials of the injection on March 4, but the whereabouts of the remaining 30 vials remain unaccounted for, raising further concerns of unmonitored distribution or usage.

The preliminary inquiry uncovered several serious lapses in how medicines were managed at Sanjay Gandhi Medical College. The banned injection was reportedly issued by storekeeper Praveen Upadhyay, who has since been suspended following the incident. Investigators found that temperature and storage conditions were inadequately maintained, raising concerns over the efficacy and safety of stored drugs. Additionally, expired and substandard medicines were kept alongside approved stock, increasing the chances of accidental usage or mishandling. The inventory and procurement records were also poorly maintained, making it difficult for authorities to trace the flow and status of drugs—particularly the banned injection that was administered to the affected patients.

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News24 reports that despite the severity of the incident, no disciplinary action has been taken against other hospital officials who were part of the chain of custody and approval. The blame has so far been restricted to the storekeeper.

Radiant Parenterals, already facing penalties, is now at the center of a public health controversy. The incident also calls into question how effectively blacklisted drugs are tracked, and whether more robust technological and regulatory solutions are required to enforce bans in real-time.

The case is expected to trigger policy reviews on drug blacklisting, storage practices, and staff training across government healthcare institutions, particularly concerning the handling of sensitive injectables in maternity wards and critical care settings.