Govt orders halt at IV fluid production unit at Baruipur

This is the second such company directed by the state government to stop production after the death of a mother

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

After the Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical, the state health department directed yet another company, Pharma Impex Laboratories, in Baruipur of South 24-Parganas to stop production of all categories of medicines, including saline.

With the health department's directives to stop productions in the manufacturing units of the two major pharma companies that supply saline in most of the government hospitals and private healthcare facilities across West Bengal, there might be a huge crisis in supply of the life-saving IV fluids in the state.

About a month ago, Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals on the directives of the state health department had stopped productions in its North Dinajpur unit after one new mother died and four others fell critically ill after giving birth to their babies at the Midnapore Medical College Hospital.

It is alleged that all the five mothers were given Ringer's Lactate saline manufactured by the company during their caesarean deliveries.