So far, 23 people have died after reacting to a free medicine from the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC). The worst may still not be over – and panic will take some time to subside, as it has emerged that 400-500 patients were given the same medicine at the hospital.
The disease, medical officials told The Express Tribune, is still undiagnosed, and 100 people are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals across the city. The symptoms of the disease include a change in complexion, low platelet count, vomiting blood and a severe chest infection.
Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, Punjab’s secretary of health, on Saturday also formed a committee to probe the fiasco. Headed by the principal of Allama Iqbal Medical College and Jinnah Hospital, Professor Javed Akram, the committee is made up of doctors and health experts from Lahore.
Dr Akram confirmed to The Express Tribune that there had been 23 casualties so far. He said that samples of the medicine had been sent to laboratories in and outside the country to ascertain what had gone wrong.
“We fear that the medicine is contaminated with some heavy metal which gets deposited in the bone marrow and ultimately ends the body’s resistance. The generation of white blood cells stops in the body and a severe chest infection also takes place,” he explained.
Dr Akram added that the medicine had been bought by the PIC in December. He said that it was being recalled and its further distribution had been stopped.
“There are four medicines of which any one could have caused this reaction. We are working on it,” he added.
Arrangements have also been made to analyse other cardiac medicines used by the PIC. Dr Akram said that a centralised data collection centre has been established to compile data on patients from all hospitals in the city.
He added that plans have been made to provide alternative medicines to PIC patients.
A helpline has been set up. The number is 042-9920-0688 When asked when the committee would present its findings, Dr Akram replied: “We will give our report in 48 hours. We hope that the patients who have used this medicine remain safe. We are trying our best.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2012.
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Let the name of the medicine and the manufacturer known. If you cant do that despite knowing, is like being an accomplice to hide the culprits.....!
It advised the consultants to stop prescribing and PIC heart patients to stop using Cardiovestin (Simvastatin), Alfagril (Clopidogrel), Concort (Amlodipine) and Soloprin (Asprin), till the findings of the probe.
source: http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/23/pic-suspends-distribution-of-free-medicines.html
Not to belittle the tragic loss of life, but a related question worth thinking about: How many lives have free medicines saved?
@Mirza: The main thing is accountability. Now that these substandard medications have caused death and morbidity, the authorities have to determine the cause, track down the relevant people and ensure that it doesn't happen again. It is this process which will continue to make Punjab the best governed province. For example when similar deaths were recorded due to spurious medications in India or other Asian and African countries, they must have gone through the same steps.
The reporter should list the name of the "medicine "...compensation to the rtelatives of the deceased should be arranged ..So much for the big slogans of the Shareefs...
Loss of 23 precious lives is certainly condemnable. Proper investigation should be made to find out the harmful effect of the medicine and expose the persons/institute/manufacturer etc involved in the matter. Hope Punjab govt will take concrete steps to book the culprits and CJ would not need to step in as it has become usual.
Shocked! It took the hospital 23 lives before the news went public? what a shame. It should have been done right away to warn patients and public. All these public servants alais Politicians go to the west with public's money for the best medical treatment and the poor public dies in the country because of substandard health care and medicines??????? If there is any ethics left, the Supreme Court must take an immediate action on this matter.
Where can I find the list of the "suspect medicine"? We need to let people know of the names so that any one taking these can stop taking and call their doctor.
@Khalid: Thats the reason in some undemocratic countries, adulteration of food stuff and medicine carried automatic death sentence.
sad to see.
This is very serious.
The guilty must be prosecuted.
Yet we keep hearing that Punjab is the best governed province of Pakistan. Shame on the people who are responsible for the killing of dozens of innocent people. What kind of cheap medications were bought for public?
This can only happen in Pakistan, 23 people dead and more to die, clearly shows the poor standards of Pharmaceuticals companies, callous attitude of those who purchase these sub-standard drugs and also inhuman attitude of thosewho prescribe them. If this was in the west, individuals would be facing criminal charges and compension would run in millions. In our Islamic Republic of Pakistan things will be coverd up, well connected will go scot free and the common man will continue to suffer and call it his fate.