LAHORE: An “injection reaction” claimed another life at Mayo Hospital in Lahore on Monday as the death toll because of the adverse reactions to an injection rises two.
Among them, 36-year-old Dawlat Khan passed away this morning after being treated in the ICU since Sunday, where his condition had deteriorated.
The injection is intended for the treatment of bacterial lung infections, according to officials. It was administered to at least 16 patients, two of whom have passed away.
Some patients complained of experiencing shivering, high fever, and difficulty breathing within 15 to 20 minutes after the inoculation.
It was revealed the other day that 18 patients at Mayo Hospital, being treated for lung infections, experienced severe reactions to the injection, resulting in the death of one woman and affecting several others, with two patients reported to be in critical condition.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her sorrow and condolences over the patient fatalities and has sought a report on the incident from the health secretary.
Maryam Nawaz extended heartfelt sympathies to the grieving families and ordered the best possible treatment for other patients currently receiving care at the hospital.
She expressed “deep concern” regarding the incident related to the injection reaction and stated that “strict action” should be taken against those responsible for any negligence.
Injection reaction ‘occurred in chest surgery ward’
According to the hospital’s medical superintendent, the injection reaction occurred in the chest surgery ward, where a 31-year-old female patient also succumbed to her condition after receiving the inoculation.
In response to the incident, the MS has formed a committee to investigate the matter, and the use of injections manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry has been “immediately suspended.”
Mayo Hospital CEO Haroon Hamid said that the administration has “immediately suspended” the use of the injection linked to adverse reactions. A committee has been formed to investigate the incident while the “best possible treatment is ongoing” for the affected patients.
The Mayo Hospital did not purchase the alleged substandard injections, Medical Superintendent Dr Ahtishamul Haq said in a statement.
He clarified that the procurement was made by the Office of the Director General of Health. The Health Office DG supplied the jabs to various hospitals, including four others besides Mayo Hospital, after the purchase, Haq added.
The MS stated that cases of adverse reactions were reported “after administering the third dose of the injection” at the infirmary. “The affected batch has been withdrawn from the hospital and sent to a drug testing laboratory for analysis.”
It merits mentioning here that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz made an unannounced visit to Mayo Hospital two days ago, where patients and their attendants voiced numerous complaints about “inadequate facilities and poor management.”
In her visit, Punjab CM Maryam expressed “strong dissatisfaction” and reprimanded the hospital administration.
She ordered the “immediate removal” of the MS, stating that the issues faced by the public in the hospital were “absolutely unacceptable.”
