Bengal LoP Calls for Swift Arrest of Health Minister and Secretary Over Expired Saline Incident
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Synopsis
On January 21, 2023, West Bengal's Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, demanded the immediate arrest of the health minister and secretary following tragic deaths linked to expired saline solutions in West Midnapore. Adhikari criticized the government's handling of the situation and called for proper investigation and compensation for victims' families.
Key Takeaways
- Leader of Opposition demands arrests.
- Expired saline linked to deaths in West Midnapore.
- Accusations against Paschim Bangla Pharmaceuticals.
- Call for unbiased investigation into the incident.
- Victims' families should receive fair compensation.
Kolkata, Jan 21 (NationPress) - The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has demanded the immediate apprehension of the West Bengal health minister and health secretary in light of recent fatalities linked to expired saline solutions.
This month, a woman and the newborn of another patient tragically succumbed at a government medical college and hospital in West Midnapore, allegedly after receiving expired Ringer’s Lactate solution.
While the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, oversees the health portfolio, the current health secretary is Narayan Swarup Nigam.
On Tuesday, LoP Adhikari joined a protest led by local civic groups in Midnapore town, voicing his demands there.
He asserted that the state government permitted Paschim Bangla Pharmaceuticals Private Limited to keep supplying Ringer’s Lactate to state hospitals despite the fact that the company had been blacklisted by both the Karnataka and West Bengal governments.
Adhikari accused the state health department of unfairly placing the blame entirely on the doctors of the hospital by suspending 12 medical professionals attached to it.
He also called for a thorough investigation into the matter that is free from the perceived bias of the current inquiry being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department.
“We demand the immediate reversal of the suspensions imposed on the doctors at the state-run hospital,” he stated.
“Furthermore, it is crucial that the families of the victims receive appropriate compensation and are not offered a meager sum in a discreet manner to close the case,” he added.
Earlier this month, five women were reported ill at the West Midnapore hospital, allegedly due to expired Ringer’s Lactate administration.
The first casualty among the five was Mamoni Ruidas, followed by the newborn of another affected patient, Rekha Shaw.
The state was engulfed in uproar over allegations surrounding the use of expired Ringer’s Lactate supplied by a company that had been blacklisted.
However, in a recent press conference, CM Banerjee stated that the negligence of the doctors was the primary cause of the incident, subsequently announcing the suspension of 12 medical personnel, including six senior and six junior doctors, along with the medical superintendent and vice principal of the hospital.
