Substandard saline: Solan firm blacklisted by Punjab Government

Solan-based Captab Biotech has been debarred from participating in any Punjab Government tender after adverse drug reactions were observed in few patients at health institutions in Amritsar and Sangrur due to the use of normal saline manufactured by it.

The pharmaceutical firm allegedly supplied substandard IV fluid or normal saline bottles to the Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC). The Director Health Services has freezed the entire stock of the said normal saline and the corporation recalled the entire stock supplied by the firm.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said all rate contracts for 11 items being supplied to the PHSC had also been cancelled with immediate effect. “Besides performance security of Rs 3,30,000 of the firm has been forfeited and pending payments have been withheld,” said Dr Balbir Singh.

The government also took up the matter with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under provisions of the Drug and Cosmetics Act. Taking prompt action, the authority stopped manufacturing by the company with an immediate effect.

Labs under lens

Besides, the role of the three labs, which initially passed the samples of the company that were later declared ‘non-specified quality’, is also under the scrutiny of the department for lapses.