Sources told The News that five types of samples including bone marrow, blood, tissues and viscera (internal organs of the body, specifically those within chest or abdomen) of two out of four bodies, whose autopsy was performed at the mortuary of King Edward Medical University, had been sent for examination in forensic labs of three different teaching institutions in London.
The initial reports of post-mortem performed on four bodies till Monday revealed that one of the patients had shown signs of internal bleeding and other showed symptoms of pneumonia as the cause of death, while the reports of remaining two bodies were yet not known. The detailed reports will be compiled after necessary tests.
Besides, the sources said the samples had also been sent to Chemical Examiner, Punjab, for necessary investigation in this regard. Similarly, sources said, the samples of bone marrow, blood and skin, along with the history of patients, were also sent for laboratory tests to ascertain the reason and effect of the reaction from medicines among the cardiac patients in the internationally-recognized laboratory of Royal Free Hospital, London. “The samples of at least 48 affected patients have been acquired and sent abroad,” a member of the technical committee said and added that the reports of laboratory tests were expected to be received in a week’s time. The experts believed that, after drug reaction, the skin of the cardiac patients had darkened three to five per cent.
Punjab Health Secretary Capt (retd) Arif Nadeem also confirmed that samples of patients and deceased persons had been sent for laboratory tests in London. He said the Technical Committee, constituted by the Punjab government, was in constant touch with experts in foreign laboratories. “We are expecting reports of samples of medicines, patients and bodies in a few days, which will be made public through media,” he added.
About reports of fitness of drugs from local laboratories, he said all laboratories pinpointed a common finding of presence of active ingredient in all seven medicines, suspected to have caused the drug reaction.
Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital Lahore Principal Prof Dr Javed Akram told The News the probe committee had recommended action against the EDO Health, Lahore, and drug inspectors for conducting inspection without prior intimation in the absence of head of the institution and subsequently sealing of the stocks of WHO-donated medicines at the drugstore of AIMC/JHL. He termed the act of sealing of medicines an attempt to change the course of inquiry into the scandal of drug reaction. It also created a sense of distrust among the World Health Organisation and other international donor agencies, he added. “Only the poor patients will be the ultimate sufferers in the whole episode,” he believed.
Punjab Parliamentary Secretary Health Dr Saeed Elahi said all eight sub-committees (technical, review & inspection, retrieval, legal, ethical, clinical, amendment & reform and disciplinary) constituted to investigate the crisis, had been working, saying that the government was aiming to change the procurement procedure of medicines, necessary amendments in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline the affairs of the public sector hospitals in the province.
He said the Review & Inspection Committee had de-sealed Tablet Section of Mega Pharma to collect raw material and to inspect the procedure of manufacturing on Monday and sealed again. “The sample of raw material will also be examined in Drug Testing Laboratory to check its quality,” he added.
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