1 woman dead, 4 critical after substandard saline administered at Medinipur Medical College

A tragic incident has unfolded at Medinipur Medical College where the administration of substandard saline led to the death of a woman and the critical illness of four others. According to the initial report from the medical authorities, the saline, identified as substandard, was administered to the women as part of their post-delivery care. The deceased, a new mother, passed away shortly after receiving the saline, leaving behind her infant child. The other four women, who were also administered the same saline, are in critical condition and are currently on ventilators.

The saline in question had previously been flagged as unsafe. It was linked to the deaths of four women in Karnataka in November 2024, prompting an investigation and a subsequent ban on the product in several states. Despite being blacklisted, the saline continued to be used in Medinipur Medical College, raising serious concerns about the oversight in the procurement and distribution of medical supplies. The Health Department has taken swift action, issuing a statewide ban on the saline, and all hospitals have been ordered to remove any remaining stock of the affected brand.

An immediate investigation has been launched by the Health Department to understand how the banned saline continued to circulate in hospitals. The department is also closely monitoring the condition of the four critically ill women. Medinipur Medical College authorities have confirmed that an internal inquiry is underway, and a team from the Health Department is set to visit the hospital to review the situation and gather further information. The principal of the college, Mousumi Nand, has not yet publicly commented on the incident.

Health experts are expressing concerns over the continued use of the substandard saline, citing that similar complaints regarding saline have been raised in the past. However, the scale of this incident, with multiple lives affected, has intensified the call for more stringent monitoring of medical products. The Health Department is being urged to implement tighter controls on the quality and safety of medical supplies, ensuring that dangerous products do not reach patients.

The incident has raised critical questions regarding the safety protocols in place for medical supplies. With hospitals relying on various suppliers, it has become evident that there needs to be more effective tracking and regulation of products, especially those that have been previously flagged for safety violations. The state government is under increasing pressure to ensure patient safety and prevent further tragedies like this one.