14 suffer allergic reaction during treatment at Sangrur hospital

At least 14 women patients suffered an allergic reaction after they were administered an intravenous fluid as part of their postpartum treatment at the gynaecology ward of the Civil Hospital here.

The incident on Friday prompted the government to immediately stop the use of the medicine batch across its hospitals in the state.

The women patients were administered normal saline (NS) fluid — a solution of sodium chloride in water that is used to replenish body fluids. Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Baljit Singh said samples of the batch supplied to the hospital were collected by drug inspectors.

He said the affected women were given hydrocortisone injections to check the allergic reaction. The patients were immediately put on oxygen support, he added.

The SMO said all women patients were in good health now and none of them was referred to a higher health institution for treatment.

Principal Secretary (Health) Kumar Rahul also visited the Civil Hospital on Friday after the incident and enquired about the patients’ health.

He said the use of the NS batch had been immediately stopped in all government hospitals of the state.

The principal secretary said test results would be available in next two-three days.

Saline solution batch withdrawn

The government has initiated probe and suspended the circulation of a particular batch of saline solution after over 15 patients reported allergic reaction at the Sangrur hospital on Saturday

Health Minister Balbir Singh confirmed that the affected batch has been withdrawn. He added, “This glucose is also stocked at three warehouses, and SMOs and CMOs in all government hospitals have been strictly instructed not to use it.”