Not a single dose of Anti-Diphtheria Serum (ADS) was available in Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases (MVID) Hospital between December 2, 2017 and September 22, 2018, however, the patients died due to heart complications, said the interim report of the Fact Finding Committee set up by North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC). The supply from Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli stopped after November 2017, said the report.
North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta told The Pioneer, "We found three main points in the report. Firstly, enough efforts were not made by former Medical Superintendent (MS), SK Gupta to purchase the serum. Secondly, the production at CRI stopped as the labs were undergoing renovation as per World Health Organisation standard and thirdly, the children were not vaccinated against diphtheria." "We have suspended the MS and new appointment has been made. More action will be taken after the final report," said Gupta.
According to the report, the CRI made around 1400 vials of serum available to the MS till November 13 last year. All of them were consumed by December 2 and the hospital did not have a single dose of serum till September 22 this year. The consignment of 200 vials was made available to the hospital by CRI on September 23, said the report.
"SK Gupta, MS, MVID visited CRI in the month of February this year but he was apprised by the institute that the supply may be made within a year due to renovation of the lab," suggested the report.
The report further said that quotations for the procurement of serum were made to five private firms out of which three denied manufacturing the serum. One of the firms asked for advance payment while the other one requested 6-8 weeks for confirmation, the report said.
As per the report which investigated death of 21patients till last week of September, the patients were either partially vaccinated or not vaccinated at all. "18 out of 21 patientswere not vaccinated and 3 were partially vaccinated. Most of the patients were admitted four to six days later after the onset of the illness," said the report.
The Committee's report further stated that patients died due to heart complications and airway obstruction. All the patients received ADS which they procured from the market, the report added.
The report also mentioned that the diphtheria wards were poorly lit and there were no anti-arrhythmic drugs available in the wards. On inspection, it was found that the operation theatres were non operational, the staff was less and the blood bank facilities were not available, said the report.
Nevertheless, the deaths continued even after the serum was made available answering which the new MS of the hospital Dr Anil Sahni said, "The serum can be used as medicine but it cannot cure the disease. The deaths that are occurring presently are of the patients who are not vaccinated and are being brought in later stages."
Shockingly, two more deaths due to the highly infectious disease were reported at the civic hospital on Wednesday and toll reached upto 30 in the month of September and first three days of October.