BJP Critiques Mamata Banerjee's Administration Following Death of Pregnant Woman Due to Expired Saline in Bengal
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Kolkata, Jan 11 (NationPress) A new controversy has arisen surrounding the capabilities of the West Bengal health department after the tragic death of a pregnant woman at Medinipur Medical College and Hospital, reportedly caused by the administration of expired Ringer’s Lactated (RL) saline. The BJP has launched a strong critique against the state government in light of this unsettling incident.
Reports indicate that five pregnant women experienced severe health complications on Friday after receiving the expired saline. Tragically, one of them, Mamoni Ruidas (25), succumbed that same day, while the remaining four continue to be in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon.
Among the four, two are currently on ventilation, one is situated in the Critical Care Unit (CCU), and another is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. Reports suggest that their health conditions remain unstable.
This incident has sparked serious apprehensions, particularly since the expired RL saline reportedly originated from Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Limited, a company that had previously been banned by the Karnataka government and subsequently by West Bengal.
Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, has asserted that the firm is accountable for supplying the expired saline.
The state health department has initiated a 13-member inquiry committee to investigate how expired saline was administered to these patients.
Adhikari has called for a comprehensive investigation by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). He has also urged an inquiry into whether the firm circumvented regulations and accessed state-run facilities due to alleged connections with the ruling party in West Bengal.
This incident has reignited concerns regarding similar occurrences within the state’s healthcare system. Notably, in a recent case of financial misconduct at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, its former principal, Sandip Ghosh, faced allegations of promoting the use of expired and ineffective medications on patients for personal financial benefits.
