Out of the 34 infants who were admitted to Niloufer Hospital after developing complications following wrong medication, 19 were discharged on Saturday and the remaining might be discharged on Sunday or Monday. Superintendent of the hospital V. Murali Krishna said the three infants whose condition was critical were taken off ventilator support and one of them would be kept under observation for 24 hours. The condition of the other infants was stable.
On Wednesday, 98 infants had been immunised at the Nampally Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC). They developed complications as they were administered Tramadol, a painkiller, instead of paracetamol when they had fever. The tablets were given to attendants by staff at the UPHC. Subsequently, two infants died. Officials said, on condition of anonymity, that the staff might have got confused between Tramadol and paracetamol because of similar packaging.
Following the death of the infants, the State government issued a memo directing the Health department to withdraw Tramadol tablets from all PHCs and Basthi Dawakhanas, and to stop its supply.
District Medical and Health Officer Venkat directed UPHC medical officers to certify there were no Tramadol tablets at their UPHCs. “Most of them gave the certification. We will cross-check by going to UPHCs. If Tramadol tablets are found with them, action will be taken against medical officers,” he said.
Further, officials of the State Health department were instructed to administer paracetamol drops to infants below one year and syrup to those above one year and below five years.
Vaccination sessions
Meanwhile, vaccination sessions were conducted in the city where paracetamol was given in the form of syrup. Usually, immunisation of infants and children is carried out every Wednesday and Saturday. Barring the Nampally UPHC, the outreach immunisation drive was conducted at all health centres on Saturday. Officials said a Central Government team conducted inquiry into the wrong medication at the Nampally UPHC.
Pulse polio
Pulse polio drive would be conducted from March 10 to 13. The DMHO said oral polio vaccine would be given to children below five years. Booth-level polio drive would be conducted on Sunday, while house-to-house drive would be undertaken for three days from Monday.