Vashi Civic Hospital Faces Inquiry After Patient Dies Following Expired Saline Allegation
The family of a 52-year-old man who died on Thursday morning has alleged that his condition worsened after staff at the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Hospital in Vashi administered an expired saline solution. Civic health authorities have launched an inquiry into the matter, while noting that the patient had also been diagnosed with dengue and suffered a severe drop in his platelet count.
The deceased, Gopiram Khadse, a resident of Sector 7 in Vashi who worked as a temple cleaner, was admitted to the civic hospital on August 31 after suffering from fever and dizziness. After initial treatment, he was moved to a general ward. His health began deteriorating on the afternoon of September 1, leading authorities to shift him to the intensive care unit at Hiranandani (Fortis) Hospital under the civic body's quota, where he died on Thursday morning.
According to the family, Khadse experienced a severe reaction during his treatment at the Vashi hospital. His son, Ajay Khadse, who works at the APMC market, stated that an expired saline solution had been administered to his father. He said that after roughly 80 per cent of the saline entered his father's body, Khadse developed rashes and severe itching, causing his condition to decline rapidly.
On Wednesday, Khadse's relatives joined Bajrang Dal workers to stage a sit-in protest at the Vashi civic hospital. The demonstrators demanded an immediate investigation and disciplinary action against the treating doctor, nurse, and other staff members involved in the procedure.
Dr Ravindra Mhatre, medical superintendent of the Vashi Hospital, confirmed that the administration received a complaint from the family regarding the expired saline. He stated that the matter would be investigated and appropriate action taken, adding that senior officials had been notified about the incident.
Dr Jayaji Nath, chairman of the NMMC Health Committee, said Khadse had been diagnosed with dengue and his platelet count had dropped to around 40,000, which may have contributed to his deteriorating condition. While stating that it cannot yet be conclusively confirmed that the saline was solely responsible for the death, Dr Nath termed the administration of expired medicine a serious instance of negligence and confirmed an inquiry will determine accountability.
