West Bengal Bans Ringer’s Lactate After Fatal Incident Linked to Expired IV Fluid

WEST BENGAL: Ringer’s Lactate (RL) is an intravenous (IV) fluid that medical professionals use as a replacement for patients who lack fluid in their bodies due to a medical cause. This solution has recently hit the headlines after a woman in West Bengal’s Medinipur Medical College and Hospital died on January 9 after she was allegedly administered ‘expired’ RL. Four other women fell critically ill after the same RL was used on them.

The West Bengal deaths came just a few weeks after four women died in Karnataka’s Ballari District Hospital due to, as an investigation later found, non-standard Ringer’s Lactate. In both states, the IV fluid had been provided by a private pharmaceutical firm, Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals.

Karnataka subsequently blacklisted the firm after writing to the Drugs Controller General of India, asking it to investigate the issue. To date, there has been no clarification from the company on this issue. 

Following the death and subsequent illnesses of other patients, a political storm erupted in West Bengal. The government has now banned the usage of RL and nine other IV fluids until further investigations and clearance.

Meanwhile, on January 14, the government issued a notice to all medical colleges and hospitals, stating that all items procured from Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals should not be used even if available, and all existing stocks should be withdrawn.

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