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contaminated drugs, I request you to use your good offices to ensure that all products sold by these companies are withdrawn from the market across India and that these companies are not allowed to sell any more drugs until they are inspected by the Central Drugs Standard Control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
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
KSRTC to run 1000 special services to clear Christmas rush
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will operate 1000 additional special services in view of the Christmas festival.
In addition to the existing schedule, the special services will run on 19.12.2025, 20.12.2025 and 24.12.2025. Further, special buses will be operated from various places of intra & Interstate places to Bengaluru on 26.12.2025 & 28.12.2025.
Special buses will be exclusively operated from Bengaluru Kempegowda Bus Station to Dharmastala, Kukkesubramanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Shringeri, Horanadu, Davangere, Hubbali, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppala, Yadgir, Bidar, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places.
ALSO READ: Bengaluru: Shopkeeper stabbed for refusing to serve free panipuri
Special buses from Mysuru Road Bus Station will be exclusively operated towards Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalanagar, Madikeri.
The corporation has also announced a discount of 5 per cent on the fare if four or more passengers book tickets under a single reservation. A discount of 10 per cent will be extended on return journey tickets if onward and return tickets are booked simultaneously.
In addition to the above, special buses will be operated from all Taluk/District Bus Stands in the jurisdiction of KSRTC based on the traffic needs.
