Anesthesia drug available as ‘muscle relaxant’ in govt hospitals
The patients are facing life-threat at government-run hospital as the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation (JKMSC) has supplied a huge stock of lethal Anesthesia drug to the health institutions under non-lethal tag.
The drug ‘Sodium Thiopentone’, which is commonly used in Critical Care Department of a hospital to induce general anesthesia, has been supplied as ‘synthetic muscle relaxant’ by JKMSCL.
The drug vial of ‘Sodium Thiopentone’ (Batch number Bio 16165) manufactured by M/s Health Biotech Ltd, Nalagarh Road, Baddi-Solan Himachal Pradesh (HP) with manufacturing date March 2016 and expiry date February 2018, was found carrying wrong drug usage.
According to Anesthetists, the ingredients are used as ultra-short-acting barbiturate and have been commonly used in the induction of general anesthesia.
“Following its intravenous injection, the drug rapidly reaches the brain and causes unconsciousness within 30–45 seconds. At one minute, the drug attains a peak concentration of about 60% of the total dose in the brain. Thereafter, the drug distributes to the rest of the body, and in about 5–10 minutes the concentration is low enough in the brain that consciousness returns. So, it is suitable drug for general anesthesia,” a senior anesthetist told Kashmir Post wishing anonymity.
He said the drug couldn’t be used as a ‘muscle relaxant’. “If anyone uses the injection as muscle relaxant, he or she can go into comma because it will act as a comma triggering agent”.
Talking to Kashmir Post President Doctors’ and Patients’ Welfare Association, Dr Sajad Wani said he was shocked to read the instructions on the vial of the drug.
“Believe me only a specialized doctor especially anesthetist can recognize the usage of this drug. If it is supplied as muscle relaxant to hospitals that means it can prove fatal for the gullible patients,” he said.
He accused health department of being callous about the Drug procurement and supplies.
“This is not a simple mistake, it is a blunder. This also shows how callous the government is,” Wani said.
He said this drug can’t be used without proper intubation and ventilation. “Its use without precautions can lead to death of patient. To use Thiopentone, we need intubation and assisted ventilation as it paralyses whole body for very short period”.
He said the common muscle relaxants used are Atracurium, Vecuronium and Pancuronium etc.
Managing Director, JLMSCL, Dr Yashpal Sharma told Kashmir Post he will probe the matter.
“If such a fault has taken place, the stocks will be called back,” he said.
However, Sharma said no doctor or hospital administrator has brought it to his notice.
“It is unfortunate that they are putting it on social media rather than informing us,” he added.
