ROHTAK: A significant development has emerged in the case of nearly half a dozen suspected deaths following elective surgeries at Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, during July and August. Following directions from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), the use of a specific batch of propofol, an anaesthetic drug, has been ordered to be discontinued with immediate effect. The District Drug Controller has seized the batch manufactured by Neon and sent its samples to a laboratory for testing.Propofol had come under suspicion during the investigation into these deaths, but it was not officially declared the cause of the fatalities at the time. The withdrawal of the specific batch and the laboratory testing of its samples have raised fresh questions about the drug’s quality. However, no direct link between the deaths reported in July and August and the drug has been established so far.A letter issued by the PGIMS central store on October 29 directed all department heads to immediately stop using the specified batch and deposit the available stock with the central store. Departments have been asked to requisition propofol injections from another batch to avoid any disruption to patient treatment.Following the suspected deaths in July and August, the PGIMS administration constituted teams at different levels to investigate the cases. The institute’s director formed a separate team of six doctors. In addition, Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Sudhir Attri constituted a seven-member committee to investigate the cases.According to the letter issued by the PGIMS central store, the drug in question is propofol injection bearing batch number NA338086. The manufacturer is identified as Neon. The batch was manufactured in February 2026 and is due to expire in January 2028.The letter refers to communication No. 72038-39 issued by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research on October 28, 2026. Subsequently, the District Drug Controller, Rohtak, inspected the PGIMS central store on October 29 and directed that the use of the specified batch be discontinued and the available stock returned.Copies of the instructions issued by the central store in-charge and the chief pharmacist of the drug store were also sent to the PGIMS director, medical superintendent and District Drug Controller.District Drug Controller Mandeep Mann said the entire batch of the suspected propofol drug had been seized and its samples sent to a laboratory for testing.The laboratory report is expected to clarify whether the batch has any quality-related defects. No specific defect has been officially confirmed so far. Similarly, no direct link has been established between the suspected deaths in July and August and the batch.Efforts were made to obtain the institute’s official response by contacting PGIMS Vice-Chancellor Dr H K Aggarwal through phone calls and WhatsApp calls, but no response was received.Attempts were also made to contact Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Sudhir Attri, but he could not be reached. Dean Dr M G Vashist was also contacted through phone calls and WhatsApp calls, but no response was received.TOI Impact: Issue prominently highlighted on September 15The Times of India had prominently reported on September 15 the suspected deaths following surgeries at PGIMS and the questions surrounding their possible causes. The latest action to discontinue the use of the specified propofol batch, seize it and send its samples for laboratory testing marks a new development in the case.
