In a shocking case of medical negligence, five pregnant women at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Medical College in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, suffered serious health complications—including temporary memory loss—after being administered a banned anesthetic injection. The incident has triggered disciplinary action, a deeper investigation, and widespread concern over drug regulation and hospital safety protocols.
The injection in question, manufactured by Gujarat-based Radiant Parenterals Ltd, had already been blacklisted by the Madhya Pradesh health department due to quality issues. It was officially banned in December 2024 after an earlier complaint emerged from Vidisha Medical College in October. Despite this, a batch of the banned drug surfaced again in February 2025 and was used on unsuspecting patients.
Authorities revealed that 100 vials of the injection were inexplicably taken from storage and reissued after the ban. Of these, only 70 have since been accounted for, leaving 30 vials untraceable. This has raised serious concerns about inventory management and oversight in public healthcare facilities.
Accountability issues and government action
The hospital’s storekeeper, Praveen Upadhyay, has been suspended for issuing the banned vials post-ban. An internal inquiry found that he continued distributing the drug despite knowing it had been removed from the government’s procurement list. Disciplinary action is now underway against him.
Radiant Parenterals Ltd, the drug manufacturer, has been blacklisted from all government procurement contracts for five years and fined Rs 3.01 lakh. Authorities also confirmed that the company’s name had been removed from official supply portals well before the incident. Still, the drug managed to enter the medical system again, prompting questions about monitoring mechanisms in place.
Hospital response and patient status
Hospital superintendent Dr Rahul Mishra stated that all five affected women have now been discharged and are in stable condition. He assured that no long-term effects are expected and that the hospital is taking strict measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Medical officials have come under intense scrutiny following the breach, as the misuse of banned medications not only endangers lives but also undermines public trust in healthcare institutions. With 30 vials still unaccounted for, the health department continues to trace the missing stock while reinforcing safety protocols across the state.
