The Rajasthan government and the Drug Control Department have taken swift action following the deaths of five women due to C-section complications. Samples of hospital medicines have been collected for testing, and an investigation into the drug supply chain is underway. Legal actions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, have been initiated as the probe progresses, stated Government Medical College Kota Principal Nilesh Jain.
Authorities have clarified that the recent deaths of women post C-section were not definitively linked to Oxytocin injections. The Medical College administration emphasized that the deceased women faced severe medical issues, and there is no concrete evidence connecting their deaths directly to the injections. Despite media reports suggesting otherwise, the institution stated that such conclusions lack scientific backing.
Samples of various medicines used in treatment have been collected for examination by the Drug Control Department. Out of 28 samples tested, all but one, an Oxytocin injection with batch number TOCIN I-7881, met quality standards. The injection was deemed “Not of Standard Quality/Spurious” due to a specific test parameter failure. However, the medical college stressed that this alone does not prove a causal link to the deaths.
The State government and the Drug Control Department have promptly taken action, collecting samples of hospital medicines for testing and launching an investigation into the supply chain. Legal proceedings under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, are in progress. Medical records review and expert analysis suggest that the women suffered from conditions like Sepsis and Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS), with no direct medical evidence linking Oxytocin to their deaths.
Medical experts clarified that in such cases, various medications and interventions like ventilator support and antibiotics are commonly used, and the administration of Oxytocin does not necessarily imply a direct link to mortality. The Rajasthan government has assured a thorough investigation through scientific and laboratory analysis, promising strict action against any guilty individuals, institutions, or companies.
