Indian Anaesthetic Drug Questioned Over Deaths

Secretary for the Department of Health Dr. Osborn Liko has alerted all provincial hospitals including all pharmaceutical importers, wholesalers and distributors of the use of particular drug called “Propofol Injection IP 10mg/mL vial (1% W/V).

The  Propofol Injection, which had fatal effects on the lives of seven patients on 12th of August during surgery at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

This newsroom understands from these seven patients, four of them died including late 14-year old Rex Wanzing.

According to a circular from Dr. Osborn Liko, the anaesthetic drug in question was manufactured in India.

Product Name: “Propofol Injection IP 10mg/mL vial (1% W/V)

Manufacture: Cooper Phama Limited, India

Batch/Lot Number: LE21007

Manufacturing Date: 04/2021

Expiry Date: 03/2023

Dr. Liko said the Department of Health is taking this matter seriously and has requested for an immediate identification and isolation of this batch of drugs from the entire procurement supply chain in both private and public hospitals.  

A guardian of the fifth patient to have gone into surgery and survived told this newsroom that all the patients experienced very high fever after surgery.

Author: 
Jemimah Sukbat