LAHORE: The Punjab Health Department has affirmed its commitment to take action against manufacturers of counterfeit medicines, without exception, in accordance with the law.
According to official sources within the Health Department, diabetic patients in Lahore, Kasur, and Jhang districts were administered Avastin injections to treat retinal damage. Tragically, these injections resulted in severe infections, ultimately leading to irreversible vision loss.
Among those affected were Chaudhry Shabbir, Main Aslam, Taufeeq, and Nasrin Bibi from Kasur, who all suffered the loss of eyesight. The number of cases of vision loss in Punjab has now risen to over 70. In response to these concerning incidents, the Punjab government has formed a five-member committee to investigate the cases of vision loss among numerous patients who received locally manufactured “Avastin” injections at different hospitals in the province.
Dr. Javed Akram, the interim Health Minister of Punjab, clarified that the adverse effects were not caused by the injection itself but rather by the use of counterfeit versions. The core problem lies in the misuse of these injections. Dr. Akram further explained that the primary issue with the sixteen-milliliter injections is their limited shelf life once removed from their protective seal.
Addressing recent events in Punjab, Dr. Javed disclosed that a private hospital in Lahore administered Avastin injections to several eye disease patients using separate syringes at different times, resulting in many patients losing their eyesight.
In response to these incidents, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has joined forces with provincial health authorities to establish a high-level committee tasked with investigating the sale of the “altered/dispensed/diluted” form of Avastin injections.
Officials from the Punjab Health Department informed APP that suspected batches of the alleged drug have been recalled, and further distribution has been halted pending verification of its quality through sampling and laboratory testing.
Additionally, the Punjab government is taking stringent measures to combat the spread of pink-eye infections. Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has stated that the government is actively implementing measures to control the infection, including the temporary closure of schools to slow its spread in Punjab.
