Punjab caretaker govt bans eye injections causing vision loss. Following reports of dozens of cases of vision loss in Punjab in recent days, the provincial caretaker government imposed a two-week ban on Avastin sales and use for ophthalmology-related treatments on Sunday, pending the results of a quality check.
The decision was made by Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi during a critical meeting with Health Department officials and eye specialists to address Avastin (Bevacizumab)-related blindness cases.
A day after it was discovered that subpar injections caused the eyesight of up to 40 diabetes patients in Lahore, cases of vision impairment were also reported in other cities in Punjab, including Multan and Sadiqabad.
There have been 68 cases of vision impairment reported in the province thus far, according to sources in the drug controller office.
The patients who received the subpar eye injections will receive free medical care, according to a statement posted on CM Naqvi’s ‘X’ handle, formerly known as Twitter.
Punjab caretaker govt bans eye injections causing vision loss, check the Tweet:
Held a crucial meeting with Health Department and Doctors to address Avastin (Bevacizumab)-related blindness cases. Here’s the action plan:
1. Immediate strict action against drug inspectors responsible for availability of non-sterile injections with a pending inquiry.
2. A… pic.twitter.com/MsjiOPtwlh
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) September 24, 2023
He vowed to take swift, severe action against drug inspectors in charge of the availability of non-sterile injections while an investigation was ongoing. The CM announced that the government would quickly put together a powerful inquiry team.
Police were given instructions to make sure those responsible for the incidents were apprehended.
Nasir Jamal, the interim minister for primary and secondary healthcare in Punjab, revealed earlier today that various dealers were peddling fake injections in the cities of Lahore, Kasur, Multan, and Sadiqabad.
He added that information was being gathered on those selling the fake injections in various province cities.
“None of the operatives of the fake injection-selling network has been arrested yet,” he said.
Moreover, he added: “A list of the people affected by fake injections is also being prepared.”
During a press conference today, interim Federal Health Minister Nadeem Jan stated that an investigation into the matter was underway while updating the public on the latest developments.
He stated that a five-person committee had been formed to investigate what caused the victims’ vision impairment.
Jan went on to say that the committee would look at the situation from every angle and determine whether the problem was with the medicine, the doctors’ competence, or the sterilization of the tools used.
He estimated that the investigation would take two to three days.
After Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Chaudhry Manzoor revealed that his brother and a friend’s eyesight was affected when they received the shot inside their eyes, the Punjab Health Department formed a committee led by ophthalmologist Dr Asad Aslam to investigate the matter.
When the PPP leader transferred his brother to a Lahore hospital, 18 other patients with the same condition had already been admitted.
Jan, on the other hand, stated that the entire batch of medicine had been withdrawn from the market and that a first information report (FIR) had been filed against two suppliers.
As per the FIR against one of the suspects, Naveed Akbar, a case has been registered under sections 23 and 27 of the Drugs Act 1976 and section 30(2) of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Act, 2012.
The federal minister also said that victims, who suffered, will be compensated and provided top-notch medical facilities, while culprits will be dealt with properly.
On the other hand, during the same presser, Jamal said: “A sample of the fake injection has been sent to the lab of the Punjab Health Department.”
He added that the Punjab Health Department had received the names of 20 affected people.
“This drug has been used for a long time and the profit margin is high,” Dr Jamal said, adding that the injection was made by a multinational company.
This provincial minister added that the medicine had been used for a long time, but it has been discovered that the margin of profit for this medicine is very high.
He said that one injection was being sold for Rs100,000.
