Expired ointment given to 21-day-old baby at Idukki Medical College

CHERUTHONI: A 21-day-old baby was allegedly given an expired ointment from the pharmacy of Idukki Medical College Hospital. The medicine was given to the baby of Sobin Sunny of Thundathil, Bhoomiyankulam, Idukki.

The baby had been taken to a doctor for a skin allergy, following which the ointment was purchased from the hospital pharmacy. After returning home, the parents noticed that the medicine had expired in June. They did not apply the ointment on the baby and later lodged a complaint with the hospital superintendent.

The hospital authorities said an explanation had been sought from the employees concerned and an investigation had been ordered. The hospital superintendent has not officially commented on the incident so far.

The DYFI Idukki Block Committee staged a protest in front of the medical college superintendent's office over the incident.

Similar incident reported in Kollam

A similar incident was reported at the Thrikkadavoor Community Health Centre in Kollam. A two-and-a-half-month-old baby of Hassan and Ashna Hassan of Puthenveettil, Neeravil, Kadavoor, was allegedly given medicine that had only a few hours left before its expiry.

The baby was given paracetamol syrup from the pharmacy after receiving the pentavalent vaccine. The parents pointed out that the medicine was nearing its expiry. Nurses then provided a new bottle, but the incident came to light later, prompting the hospital authorities to launch an inquiry. The medical officer of the hospital said the incident would be investigated in detail. The DYFI also staged a march to the hospital in protest.