Raising serious questions on the quality of medicines being provided to the persons with hemophilia at a Telangana Hospital, the Hemophilia Federation (India), on Monday urged the Union Health Ministry to look into the matter and ensure that good standard of drug is supplied to the community across the country. Hemophilia is a life threatening genetic disorder in which the blood of the patient doesn’t coagulate on its own.
To corroborate its allegations, the HFI, an apex body for the sector in the country in a complaint letter to the Ministry has also planned to attach related photos of ‘defective’ drug (Anti Hemophilic Factor- Factor VIII concentrate) being provided at the Gandhi Hospital in Telangana. It alleged that it was in frozen form and not in powder form as medically required. Factors are blood products adminstered to the patients in case of any injury.
“The concerns are based on a query raised by one of the patients of our Hyderabad Chapter while he was being treated with FVIII concentrate for a bleeding episode at Gandhi Hospital in Telangana last week. We are very much worried about the quality of the medicine, which is the life line for these hapless patients. Such negligence is fatal to the patients,” said Vikash Goyal, President of the HFI.
He said that the HFI’s Hyderabad Chapter General Secretary Venigalla Ramarao has already had a meeting with the officials from the Gandhi Hospital and it was found that the medicines (Factor VII) kept for the patients were defective. “Actually they are supposed to be freeze dried and in the powder form. In fact, the contents in vials of Factor IX stocked in the same store of the hospital were in dried and powder form and are in good condition.
“Hence, we suspect that the contents of Factor VIII are not as per the specifications and requirements and our patients are afraid that it is not safe to infuse the medicine.
“Also, if moisture is present in the bottle, bacteria and fungus may develop in them while in storage and can lead to severe complications in the patients if administered intravenously, the route of administration of Anti Hemophilic Factor - Factor VIII,” said the letter which is written to the Telangana State Medical Services & Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMSIDC) as well besides the Central Health Ministry.
Goyal minced no words as he said that it was unfortunate that not only there have been inadequate facilities and shortage of factors, some state governments are also undermining the quality of the drugs which can be fatal to the patients.
“This is just one of the cases of callous attitude of health authorities towards the Hemophilia Community in States,” said Goyal as he called for the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) probe also.