Hospital Administers Animal Vaccine on Patients

The government-run Hamidia Hospital here used an animal vaccine supplied to it by mistake on human patients, leading to the suspension of a doctor and storekeeper

The government-run Hamidia Hospital here used an animal vaccine supplied to it "by mistake" on human patients, leading to the suspension of a doctor and storekeeper, authorities said Wednesday.

The government has also blacklisted the Indore-based Nandini Laboratory Pvt Ltd, which provided the vaccine to the hospital.

"It was just by chance that doctors at the hospital found out that medicines meant for animals were being administered to patients," a hospital source said.

"Kitamin Hydrochloride, a drug used to induce anaesthesia in animals, has been administered on several patients. However, there were no reports of any causalities," the source added.

Health Minister Ajay Bishnoi said: "We have blacklisted the company and suspended the storekeeper and doctor concerned."

However, the authorities maintain that it was not a serious error because drugs for animals and humans come in similar packing.

"The only difference between the vaccines for animals and human beings is that of dosage," said R.P. Kaushal, faculty member of the hospital's department of anaesthesia.

The Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Nigam (MPLUN), the nodal agency for government purchases, tried to wash its hands off the controversy.

In a statement to the police, MPLUN chairman Vipin Dikshit claimed that his agency was not responsible for the supply of the vaccine.

The company had sent 199 vials of the vaccine through the MPLUN to the hospital, which used 31 vials.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and the health minister Tuesday conducted a surprise inspection at the hospital.

(Source: IANS News)