NONGPOH:
The Khasi Students Union (KSU) Nongpoh Circle on September 27, sprang into action in response to an incident reported by a vigilant mother. The incident involves the discovery of a foreign object resembling glass in medicine prescribed for her six-year-old child. This incident has prompted the KSU to demand answers and assurance regarding patient safety at Civil Hospital Nongpoh.
KSU organised a meeting with the District Medical Health Officer (DMHO) of Ri Bhoi to address the issue at hand. During this meeting, the KSU expressed its concerns and called for an immediate inquiry into the matter. This marks the first such complaint related to medicine at the Civil Hospital Nongpoh.
DMHO Ri Bhoi shed light on the ongoing investigation, disclosing that a random sample of the medicine had already been sent for testing by the Medicine Inspector. Following this complaint, another sample will be submitted for retesting to verify the medicine’s safety. To ensure patients’ well-being, DMHO Ri Bhoi assured the temporary suspension of this medicine’s distribution within the district, pending a decision by the state government.
Addressing the media, Baiaishanlang Kharshanlor, General Secretary of KSU Nongpoh Circle emphasised that their intent was not to criticise or pressure Civil Hospital Nongpoh but rather to raise awareness about potentially unsafe medications in circulation. Kharshanlor stressed, “The delegation today has not meant to criticise or pressure the Civil Hospital Nongpoh but to make them aware that such medicines pose risks to patients.”
Furthermore, Kharshanlor called upon the government, through DMHO, to halt the distribution of this medicine across the entire state until thorough testing could confirm its safety. He also urged the government to exercise caution when procuring generic medicines for government hospitals, cautioning against unreliable suppliers who may provide unsafe medications.
The concerned mother, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted her experience: “We came to Civil Hospital Nongpoh for my daughter’s fever, and the doctor prescribed this medicine to be taken twice a day. To our surprise, during the second dose, I discovered a glass-like object inside the bottle.”
This incident follows a similar report on September 12, 2023, when another woman found a nail inside a capsule intended for her daughter at Pomlum PHC.
