Suvendu Adhikari Demands FIRs Against Mamata Banerjee and Health Secretary Over Pregnant Woman's Death
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On January 13, Suvendu Adhikari urged FIRs against Mamata Banerjee and Narayan Swarup Nigam concerning the death of a pregnant woman allegedly due to expired Ringer’s Lactate saline at Midnapore Medical College. The incident highlights serious negligence within West Bengal's healthcare system.
Key Takeaways
- Suvendu Adhikari calls for FIRs against Mamata Banerjee.
- Pregnant woman dies after receiving expired saline.
- Health department negligence is evident, claims Adhikari.
- Inquiry committee formed to investigate the incident.
- Concerns over expired medication use in West Bengal healthcare.
Kolkata, Jan 13 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday, called for the registration of FIRs against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state health secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam regarding the tragic death of a pregnant woman at the state-run Midnapore Medical College and Hospital after she was allegedly given 'expired' Ringer’s Lactate (RL) saline.
Addressing the media outside the state Assembly, Adhikari accused the state health department of clear negligence. “What has transpired is unforgivable. On December 13 of the previous year, the Karnataka Government alerted West Bengal about the saline supplier. Despite this, the saline continued to be utilized in various state-run hospitals even after a ban was imposed in January.
He stated that both the Chief Minister, who also oversees health, and the health secretary cannot escape accountability in this incident. Adhikari alleged that the supplier, Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Limited, has close ties with the ruling Trinamool Congress.
“I suspect a financial motive behind this situation, where a blacklisted supplier's products were still in use. The suffering of the common people will ultimately lead to the downfall of the Chief Minister and her administration,” Adhikari remarked.
Recently, five pregnant women were severely affected at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital after reportedly receiving expired saline. One of them, Mamoni Ruidas (25), passed away last Friday. The others remain hospitalized, with three transferred to the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata due to deteriorating conditions.
This incident has raised grave concerns, especially since the expired RL saline was allegedly sourced from Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Limited, which had previously been banned by both Karnataka and West Bengal governments.
The West Bengal Health Department has constituted a 13-member inquiry committee to determine how expired saline was provided to these patients. This event has reignited worries about similar occurrences within the state's healthcare system.
It is noteworthy that a recent financial misconduct case at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata involved its former principal, Sandip Ghosh, who was accused of promoting the use of expired and ineffective medications for personal profit.
