Hyderabad: Health minister C. Laxma Reddy said on Wednesday that Haseeb Pharmaceuticals, which had supplied the saline that got infected with Klebsiella bacteria, would be blacklisted.
Following Wednesday’s incident in which several patients were affected by the use of the infected saline, he told this newspaper that procurement process of medical supplies would be made stringent.
Dr Reddy said, “All saline bottles of the company will be seized. The procuring process of medical equipment and supplies was till now based on lowest bid but we will change it to include that the seller is not just a supplier but also manufacturer of the products so that product quality will be maintained.”
The situation of the five patients whose eyes were affected due to Klebsiella bacteria-infected saline in Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital has not improved.
Dr Rajender Gupta, deputy superintendent of the hospital, said, “While similar antibiotic treatment was given to all 13 patients, the treatment did not have an effect in these five patients. One of the reasons is their age as they are all above 60. There is still perception of light in these five patients but their situation is not that good.” Dr Gupta added that as of now it could not ascertained if the eyesight of the five patients would return to normal.
The patients are Arpana Bai, 75, of Langar Houz, M. Prabhavathi 60, of Medchal, Nookalatalli, 60, of Srikakulam, S. Anji Reddy, 75, from Chevella and Ch Manikyam, 70. from Medak.
The patients and their kin are worried as there has been no improvement in their vision. A relative of a women patient said, “We were not even informed of the infection. One of the doctors even said that my grandmother could be taken home. After the kin of one of the patients raised a ruckus, we were told that it would take a few more days for them to get treated and the patients were told to stay back for treatment.” She said even food was provided after an outcry.
