Sun Dec 08 19:49:53 UTC 2024: ## Substandard IV Fluid Kills Five Women in Karnataka Hospital; State Seeks Action Against Manufacturer

**Ballari, Karnataka, December 9, 2024** – The deaths of five women following Cesarean sections at Ballari district hospital have sparked a major public health crisis and exposed flaws in Karnataka’s drug testing system. An investigation revealed that the women developed complications, including acute kidney injury and multi-organ dysfunction, after receiving a substandard Compound Sodium lactate Injection (Ringer’s Lactate solution) from Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals.

Seven of the 34 women who underwent C-sections between November 9th and 11th experienced complications, with five ultimately succumbing to their injuries. Notably, none of the women had high-risk pregnancies. An expert committee from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences concluded the substandard intravenous fluid was the cause.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a ₹5 lakh ex-gratia payment to the families of the victims and suspended the Karnataka State Drugs Controller, Umesh S., for dereliction of duty. Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals has been blacklisted, and a criminal case has been filed against the company. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated against the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL), which procured the fluids.

The incident has highlighted discrepancies in drug testing. The Karnataka Health Department has written to the Drugs Controller General of India to investigate a mismatch between test results from the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) in Kolkata and the State’s own testing, which found 22 batches of the solution to be substandard. While the CDL certified the batches as standard quality, the state’s testing found otherwise. The batch in question has been withdrawn, and remaining Ringer’s Lactate fluids from Ballari have been sent to private NABL-accredited labs for further testing.

This tragedy occurs despite a significant reduction in Karnataka’s maternal mortality rate over the years. While the state’s MMR has fallen to 64 per lakh live births in 2023-24, the incident raises serious concerns about healthcare product testing and oversight. The opposition is expected to raise the issue in the upcoming winter session of the Karnataka Legislature. An investigation into whether other maternal deaths were linked to the substandard fluid is underway.

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