Latest news with #PunjabCivilMedicalServices
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Found contaminated, intravenous fluid recalled from hospitals
Amid reports that an intravenous (IV) fluid is contaminated, the Punjab health department has recalled it from all health centres. This comes barely three months after another IV fluid (Normal Saline) was recalled. In an SOS message to the civil surgeons on Thursday, the health department issued directions to immediately halt the usage of Ringer's Lactate, manufactured by Albert David. Consequently, health officials have directed all district and block-level health officers to immediately remove the drug from their inventories and isolate it. The higher-ups got to know about the issue after there were reports that the results after administering this fluid were not as desired, said a health official, wishing not to be named. 'It has come to the notice that Ringer's Lactate (Punjab government supply), manufactured by Albert David (batch number P4050880), has been found contaminated in some of the health facilities in the state. Additionally, all the available stock of the aforementioned batch should immediately be isolated and kept under safe custody to prevent any further use. This may be treated as the most urgent,' reads the letter, a copy of which is available with HT. Ringer's Lactate, also known as lactated Ringer's solution, is a type of intravenous fluid used to replace fluid and electrolyte losses. It is especially used for restoring blood volume in situations like trauma, burns and sepsis, as well as in cases of hypovolemia (low blood volume). Additionally, it can be used as an alkalinising agent to help correct metabolic acidosis. Confirming the development, Punjab Health System Corporation's (PHSC) nodal officer (purchase) Dr Pawanpreet Kaur said she was still gathering reports from the districts regarding the issue. 'Therefore, I won't be able to comment much on the issue at this moment,' she said. Health minister Dr Balbir Singh did not respond to repeated calls and messages. Meanwhile, Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association said,' With the government persistently expressing its commitment to bolster the public healthcare services in the state, it is vital to ensure that the drugs and consumables of optimum quality are procured.' In March, Normal Saline (NS) — a commonly used IV fluid — was pulled from circulation after 20 women fell ill at a government health centre in Sangrur.
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
3rd hospital violence in a month: Two groups clash at Nawashahr civil hospital
In the third such incident in Punjab this month, two groups clashed inside the emergency ward of Nawanshahr's civil hospital on Friday evening. Similar clashes had been reported from Dera Bassi and Gurdaspur civil hospitals on April 11 and April 12 respectively, following which the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association had demanded that security guards be deployed at state-run hospitals. During a meeting with PCMS representatives, the government had agreed in principle to beef up security at medical facilities across the state. In the latest incident, the two groups had been admitted to the emergency ward with medicolegal injuries when they began verbally abusing each other. According to the police, the hospital staff asked the two groups to move to separate wards, but they continued abusing and assaulting each other. A cabin in the hospital was also damaged in the incident. Following the complaint of the hospital's medical officer Gagandeep Singh, a case under Sections 194(2) (affray) and 324(3) (mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other sections of the Punjab Protection of Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008, was registered against four accused. The accused were identified as Jashanjit Singh Kahlon, Jaskarandeep Singh, Gaurav Kumar and Vishal Chhadi, all residents of Muzaffarpur village of SBS Nagar. PCMS association state president Dr Akhil Sarin said it is highly condemnable that yet another incident of violence has been reported from a hospital. 'Besides doctors and medical staff, such incidents pose a threat to patients as well. We met state government officials last week who assured us that security would be provided at civil hospitals and other medical facilities. We demand the government to fast-track the process.'
