Jaipur– In a fresh blow to Rajasthan’s Chief Minister’s Free Medicine Scheme, authorities have suspended supplies of Lactulose Solution—a commonly prescribed stomach cleansing drug—after a suspicious membrane-like substance was discovered in the bottles at a government hospital. This comes on the heels of recent scandals involving contaminated cough syrups that sickened children and caused fatalities, amplifying fears over the scheme’s drug quality.
The issue surfaced at Government Jaipuriya Hospital when staff opened a newly arrived batch of Lactulose Solution from Uniqueure India Limited. While pouring the contents into a cap for inspection, they spotted a thin, film-like layer floating inside, triggering an immediate halt to distribution. “We noticed the unusual substance right away and stopped everything to ensure patient safety,” said a hospital official.
No adverse health effects have been reported from this batch so far, providing some relief amid the panic. However, the discovery has deepened public skepticism toward the flagship initiative, designed to deliver free essential medicines to underprivileged patients across the state.
Probe Launched Amid Broader Concerns
A two-member committee, led by Dr. Vinod Gupta, Medical Officer in Charge of the Chief Minister’s Free Medicine Scheme, and Dr. Rajendra Verma from the hospital’s General Medicine Department, has been tasked with investigating the contamination source. Drug samples have been rushed to the State Drug Testing Laboratory for forensic analysis. Depending on the findings, officials may issue a statewide recall from hospitals and pharmacies.
Unicure India Limited, the supplier, has been directed to submit detailed reports on its manufacturing and quality assurance processes. “If negligence is confirmed, we will take stringent action against the company to prevent such lapses,” Dr. Gupta stated, underscoring the government’s commitment to transparency.
This incident echoes the cough syrup crisis earlier this year, where substandard formulations led to child hospitalizations and deaths, prompting nationwide scrutiny of pharmaceutical suppliers. Rajasthan health officials are now under pressure to overhaul vetting protocols, with calls for stricter audits to restore trust in the scheme. Supplies of Lactulose Solution remain frozen until cleared by lab results, ensuring no risk to vulnerable patients.
