The Directorate of Drug Administration found no bacteria in the samples of the saline and drugs used in the bodies of 11 women who died after cesarean section in the port city of Chittagong. The concerned officials said that such information was obtained after testing the samples collected in the laboratory in Dhaka.
A report has already been sent to Chittagong Drug Administration Directorate stating that the quality of the collected drugs is correct. However, 26 days ago, the concerned authorities of the Chittagong Mother and Child General Hospital reported that they had tested saline in their own lab and found suspicious ‘germs’. There was a commotion about this.
Prior to this, in the months of February and March, maternal deaths after caesarean occurred in some private hospitals including Chittagong Mother-Child General Hospital, Chittagong International Medical College Hospital, Chittagong City Corporation General Hospital. A huge uproar started over this. After that, the drug administration department collected samples of saline and used drugs from the pharmacy of the respective hospital. Apart from this, an inquiry committee has been formed from the Health Department to look into the issue of consecutive maternal deaths. The committee continues its activities. The investigation committee received information about the death of 11 people. 6 of them are from Mother-Child General Hospital.
It is known that the drug administration department collected these samples on March 25. It was then sent to the institution’s own lab in Dhaka for testing. The report of the medicine and saline sample sent on April 17 was sent to the Chittagong office. It stated that no drug was found to be defective.
SM Sultanul Arefin, assistant director of Chittagong Department of Drug Administration, confirmed the matter. Kalbela said, ‘The samples of the drugs used in the bodies of the mothers who died after caesarean section were collected and sent to the lab of the Department of Drug Administration in Dhaka for testing on March 25. His report is received. The report said that no errors were found in the lab tests.’
On March 25, the Mother-Child Hospital authorities said that the hospital authorities took the initiative to test the samples of saline used in the patients’ bodies to investigate the cases of maternal death after cesarean. An intravenous push of saline is collected from the hospital’s own pharmacy and tested in its own lab. Then the authorities said that they suspected the presence of ‘bacteria’ in the saline.
When asked about this matter, Chittagong Mother-Child General Hospital General Secretary Rezaul Karim Azad told Kalbela that we do not have any equipment to check such matters. When the incident occurred, the test was conducted on its own initiative. I doubted then. At that time we were not confirmed about getting the germs. Because of which I asked the drug administration to collect the sample. We suspected germs.
If asked to know, the president of the death review committee formed by the Department of Health, the principal of Chamek and the head of the department of Gynecology, Professor Dr. Sahena Akhter said, ‘The drugs used during the maternal death have been tested in the drug administration department’s lab. No errors were found. Those who died all had ‘comorbidities’ (multiple other diseases or symptoms), a review of the papers showed. A report will be submitted in this regard within a day or two.’
Meanwhile, the investigation committee formed in the case of maternal death in Chittagong is also working to investigate the cause of death. The members of the committee also sat in a meeting regarding this matter on Saturday. According to committee sources, the report of the Directorate of Drug Administration was discussed in the meeting. Apart from this, the exact cause of these maternal deaths was also reviewed on this day. Among them, the committee members are looking into the drugs used during and after the seizure and the medical issues after the seizure.
