Min. Dinesh Gundu Rao warns Centre against 9 injections which failed sterility tests in state labs
Bengaluru, Feb 21 (PTI): Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has said that nine injectable drugs manufactured in other states have failed the sterility tests done in the Karnataka government’s laboratories.
In a letter sent to the Union Health Minister J P Nadda, he said he has instructed officials of his department to take steps to ensure that these drugs are no longer sold in Karnataka.
The medicines that failed sterility tests are: Metronidazole injection manufactured by Pharma Impex Laboratories, Baruipur in West Bengal; Diclofenac Sodium Injection by Alpha Laboratories in Indore (MP); Dextrose injection by Rusoma Laboratories in Indore (MP); Metronidazole by IHL Lifesciences Private Limited in Khargone (MP); Frusemide by Paksons Pharmaceuticals at Bahadurgarh in Haryana; Piperacillin and Tazobactam by Modern Laboratories in Indore (MP); Calcium Gluconate and Ondansetron by Regain Laboratories at Hisar in Haryana; and Astropine Sulphate produced by Martin and Brown Biosciences at Solan in Himachal Pradesh, Dinesh Gundu Rao said in his letter sent on Thursday.
"I am writing to bring your attention to the repeated instances of sale within Karnataka of contaminated injectable drugs manufactured in other states," Rao wrote to Nadda.
Between 1 January 2025 and 16 February 2025, nine injectable drugs manufactured in other states failed ‘sterility testing’ in Karnataka government’s laboratories, he explained.
Sharing the details of the drugs along with batch numbers in his letter, Rao pointed out that the list did not include ‘numerous injectables’ manufactured by Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals based in West Bengal, "whose contaminated injectables caused the deaths of five young mothers in Ballari district of Karnataka".
"While I am instructing my department to take adequate steps to ensure these drugs are no longer sold within Karnataka, it is highly likely that other contaminated drugs manufactured by these companies are being sold in other states in India,” the Minister said.
He said injectables are used in acute care and therefore are high risk to patients.
"Given the 'life or death' consequences for patients being administered these contaminated drugs, I request you to use your good offices to ensure that all products sold by these companies are withdrawn from the market across India and that these companies are not allowed to sell any more drugs until they are inspected by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP),” the Minister told Nadda.
He also requested the Union Minister to create a system for all states and central laboratories to share alerts with each other regarding drugs, which have failed quality testing, especially those failures which could potentially cause serious adverse events for patients.
"In addition to sharing alerts, there should also be a legal requirement to share sales records from the manufacturer to enable seizure of the contaminated drugs from the supply chain before they are dispensed to patients,” Rao said.
"Lastly, we need a system to alert doctors, pharmacists and patients about the drugs that are failing testing in our respective testing laboratories. My department would be glad to assist in this regard,” the Minister said.
I have written to Union Health Minister Shri @JPNadda regarding the repeated instances of contaminated injectable drugs from other states being sold in Karnataka. It is deeply concerning that unsafe medicines have entered our healthcare system, leading to tragic incident of loss… pic.twitter.com/ku7T5aampA
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) February 21, 2025
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Asha Bhosle's last rites to be held with state honours in Mumbai's Shivaji Park
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Mumbai (PTI): The last rites of legendary singer Asha Bhosle will be performed at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Monday afternoon with state honours.
The 92-year-old singer who ruled Bollywood for over seven decades with her wide range of memorable songs passed away on Sunday due to multi-organ failure at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.
Later, her mortal remains were brought to her residence in Lower Parel.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid last respects to Bhosle at her residence on Sunday evening and offered floral tributes.
State Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, along with legislators Sunil Shinde and Prasad Lad, also paid their respects.
"Asha Bhosle will be accorded a state funeral, which will take place at 4 pm on April 13," Shelar said.
The singer's son, Anand, said people can pay their last respects to her at 11 am on Monday at Casa Grande, Lower Parel, where she lived.
"Her last rites will be performed at 4 pm on Monday at Shivaji Park," he told reporters.
Ashatai, as the legendary singer was popularly known, was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and Maharashtra Bhushan awards.
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