Punjab Govt Bans Locally-Made Injection for Causing Blindness

The Government of Punjab has banned the use of locally-manufactured injection after reports that it caused blindness in multiple patients across the province. Meanwhile, the province’s caretaker Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi has announced free treatment to the affected individuals.

The development came to light during a press conference held by caretaker Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan and Punjab Healthcare Minister, Dr Jamal Nasir on Sunday.

Furthermore, the Punjab Government has formed a five-member committee to investigate the matter as to why patients lost their vision after receiving the locally-made injection called Avastin after different hospitals across the province.

It is pertinent to mention that Avastin is a locally-manufactured injection used in the treatment of conjunctivitis, which is a pink-eye infection that is currently spreading across Punjab, especially Lahore.

The injection has been banned and recalled from the market for causing blindness and a case has been registered against its suppliers. Moreover, the Punjab Health Department has sent a sample of the injection to the lab for testing and the report will be available in two to three days.

The provincial Government has also mobilized drug inspectors across Punjab to halt the sale of the injection despite the ban and recall of the defected medicine. Apart from this, all doctors and patients have been advised against the use of the injection ‘Avastin’, while medical stores, wholesalers, and distributors have been prohibited from selling it.

The case has been registered against the suppliers at the Lahore’s Faisal Town Police Station on the complaint of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). The case specifies that the injection, a treatment for conjunctivitis, was manufactured at a private lab in Faisal Town and distributed across Punjab.

The police are conducting raids to apprehend the lab owner, identified as Naveed Abdullah, and an employee, Bilal Rasheed. It was revealed by the minister that mentioned accused are responsible for manufacturing and stockpiling unlicensed drugs and selling unregistered injections.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) of the case, suspect Bilal supplied the fake injections in Kasur, in violation of the DRAP and the Drug Act of 1976 and 2012. The accused were charging as much as Rs. 100,000 for a single injection and their network extended beyond Lahore, Kasur, Multan and Sadiqabad.

Naqvi on Platform X said that free treatment will be provided to all patients affected by the injection and an inquiry team has been formed to investigate the matter.

Read more: Lahore Sees Alarming Surge in Pink Eye Infection.

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