Oxytocin injections found fake at Rajasthan hospital where 5 pregnant women died
Rajasthan has banned the sale and use of a failed oxytocin batch supplied to government hospitals after tests found it allegedly fake. The batch was used at Kota's New Medical College Hospital, where several maternal deaths and other suspected drug failures are under enquiry.
A batch of oxytocin injections supplied to government hospitals in Rajasthan has failed quality tests, prompting the state’s Drug Control Department to ban its sale and use across the state, officials said.
The drug, commonly administered to women during and after delivery to control excessive bleeding, was allegedly found to be fake after laboratory testing revealed that the injection lacked the required blood-clotting component.
Officials said the same batch of oxytocin injections manufactured by Jackson Laboratories, Amritsar, had also been used at the New Medical College Hospital in Kota, where multiple pregnant and postpartum women died following C-section and uterine surgeries in recent days.
At least five women reportedly died at government hospitals in Kota after developing severe complications within hours of surgery. According to officials and preliminary findings, patients suffered a sudden drop in blood pressure and platelet count, along with symptoms of kidney failure, within 8 to 12 hours after undergoing C-section deliveries.
Investigators are also examining allegedly failed IV fluid batches used in the hospitals. The Rajasthan government has launched a high-level enquiry into the deaths, while a specialised team from SMS Medical College in Jaipur was sent to Kota to assist in treatment and investigate the possible causes.
Hospital authorities, however, said the exact cause behind the deaths is still under investigation and no final conclusion has yet been reached by the enquiry committee.
Rajasthan Drug Controller Ajay Phatak said samples of the oxytocin injection had failed testing, following which the entire stock at the Kota hospital was seized. Authorities have now halted the sale and use of the drug across Rajasthan. The state health department has also suspended members of the medical staff linked to the case pending investigation.
The development comes amid a wider crackdown on suspected counterfeit medicines in Rajasthan. Officials said samples of 11 medicines sold across the state over the past 10 days had failed quality checks.
According to preliminary findings, drugs used for treating fever, allergies, stomach infections, emergency pain management and antibiotics were among those found to be substandard or fake.
The medicines were reportedly manufactured by companies based in several states, including Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Maharashtra.
A batch of oxytocin injections supplied to government hospitals in Rajasthan has failed quality tests, prompting the state’s Drug Control Department to ban its sale and use across the state, officials said.
The drug, commonly administered to women during and after delivery to control excessive bleeding, was allegedly found to be fake after laboratory testing revealed that the injection lacked the required blood-clotting component.
Officials said the same batch of oxytocin injections manufactured by Jackson Laboratories, Amritsar, had also been used at the New Medical College Hospital in Kota, where multiple pregnant and postpartum women died following C-section and uterine surgeries in recent days.
At least five women reportedly died at government hospitals in Kota after developing severe complications within hours of surgery. According to officials and preliminary findings, patients suffered a sudden drop in blood pressure and platelet count, along with symptoms of kidney failure, within 8 to 12 hours after undergoing C-section deliveries.
Investigators are also examining allegedly failed IV fluid batches used in the hospitals. The Rajasthan government has launched a high-level enquiry into the deaths, while a specialised team from SMS Medical College in Jaipur was sent to Kota to assist in treatment and investigate the possible causes.
Hospital authorities, however, said the exact cause behind the deaths is still under investigation and no final conclusion has yet been reached by the enquiry committee.
Rajasthan Drug Controller Ajay Phatak said samples of the oxytocin injection had failed testing, following which the entire stock at the Kota hospital was seized. Authorities have now halted the sale and use of the drug across Rajasthan. The state health department has also suspended members of the medical staff linked to the case pending investigation.
The development comes amid a wider crackdown on suspected counterfeit medicines in Rajasthan. Officials said samples of 11 medicines sold across the state over the past 10 days had failed quality checks.
According to preliminary findings, drugs used for treating fever, allergies, stomach infections, emergency pain management and antibiotics were among those found to be substandard or fake.
The medicines were reportedly manufactured by companies based in several states, including Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Maharashtra.
