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West Bengal blood test kit scam
SamHolt6: Created article, categories to follow soon. Very sanguine
The '''West Bengal blood test scam''' was an instance in which an Indian company, [[Monozyme India]], sold thousands of defective [[Blood test|blood test kits]] to various medical facilities in the [[India|Indian State]] of [[West Bengal]]. The resulting increase in cases of infectious diseases led to a government probe, the arrest of several prominent directors of Monozyme India, and widespread criticism being levied against the healthcare system of West Bengal.
== Description ==
=== Background ===
The blood test scam took place in the [[India|Indian State]] of [[West Bengal]]. Due to the region's lower level of economic development, the West Bengali medical system of the early 2000s was noted as being underfunded and thus providing substandard care.<ref>Shah, Mansi (2007). "Waiting for health care: a survey of a public hospital in Kolkata" (PDF). [[Centre for Civil Society]]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2012.</ref><ref>https://ift.tt/2Ke1vY3> Despite these shortcomings, the Bengali medical system did contain a number of public and private blood banks, which provided the wider system with a supply of blood. To ensure that this blood was safe for use in blood transfusions, the various banks and hospitals used [[Blood test|blood test kits]] to test blood for infectious diseases.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" />
=== Defective tests ===
In 2004, several West Bengali healthcare facilities placed a new contract for blood test kits; these new kits would be used to help detect [[Hepatitis B]], [[Hepatitis C]] and [[HIV]] in blood, thus allowing for safer transfusions. Several bids were made, with one [[Secunderabad]]-based company, [[Monozyme India]], winning the contract.<ref name=":0" /> It was later revealed that Monozyme India had offered to sell blood test kits for 20 [[Rupee|Rupees]] a unit, as opposed to the 60-70 rupees offered by other companies.<ref name=":0"></ref> Among dozens of other facilities, Monozyme India provided kits to 8 blood transfusion centers in West Bengal.<ref name=":1"></ref>
Starting in 2005, an uptick of blood-transmissible disease infections was reported by several medical facilities in West Bengal.<ref name=":3" /> In particular, it was noted that these was a marked increase previously-unaffected people being diagnosed with HIV and Hepatitis C and B. These complaints were investigated, and in September 2006 the [[NRS Medical College]] Blood Bank uncovered that thousands of blood test kits sold by Monozyme India had had their expiration date tampered with or removed.<ref name=":1" /> Testing found that these older, expired tests were defective and thus unable to determine if blood was infected. In repose, the Indian police raided over 75 facilities that may be in possession of expired blood test kits, and a warning was sent out by the West Bengali healthcare network. As a result of the police raids, it was found that Monozyme India had sold 140,000 blood test kits between December 2004 and August 2006.<ref name=":4"></ref><ref name=":1" />
In light of the findings of West Bengali police and healthcare system, an investigation was launched regarding potential negligence by Monozyme India.<ref name=":1" /> In particular, there was concern that the company had knowingly violated the [[Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940]], which prohibited the tampering of expiration dates on drugs.<ref name=":1" /> Random tests on the seized blood test kits showed that almost all of the kits were defective in some way; as such, legal and criminal action was taken against several high-level employees at Monozyme India. Particular focus was placed on two brothers, Ghanashyam and Govind Sarda. Govind was the owner of Monozyme India, and Ghanashyam had been managing director of the company from April 2005 to August 2006.<ref name=":1" /> Ghanashyam received considerable coverage in the media after he was arrested at an airport in Calcutta, allegedly while attempting to flee the country.<ref name=":3"></ref><ref name=":2"></ref> Govid was also arrested.<ref name=":2" />
=== Aftermath ===
In the aftermath of the situation, Indian authorities conducted a number of probes into the healthcare system of West Bengal.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
== References ==
== Description ==
=== Background ===
The blood test scam took place in the [[India|Indian State]] of [[West Bengal]]. Due to the region's lower level of economic development, the West Bengali medical system of the early 2000s was noted as being underfunded and thus providing substandard care.<ref>Shah, Mansi (2007). "Waiting for health care: a survey of a public hospital in Kolkata" (PDF). [[Centre for Civil Society]]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2012.</ref><ref>https://ift.tt/2Ke1vY3> Despite these shortcomings, the Bengali medical system did contain a number of public and private blood banks, which provided the wider system with a supply of blood. To ensure that this blood was safe for use in blood transfusions, the various banks and hospitals used [[Blood test|blood test kits]] to test blood for infectious diseases.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" />
=== Defective tests ===
In 2004, several West Bengali healthcare facilities placed a new contract for blood test kits; these new kits would be used to help detect [[Hepatitis B]], [[Hepatitis C]] and [[HIV]] in blood, thus allowing for safer transfusions. Several bids were made, with one [[Secunderabad]]-based company, [[Monozyme India]], winning the contract.<ref name=":0" /> It was later revealed that Monozyme India had offered to sell blood test kits for 20 [[Rupee|Rupees]] a unit, as opposed to the 60-70 rupees offered by other companies.<ref name=":0"></ref> Among dozens of other facilities, Monozyme India provided kits to 8 blood transfusion centers in West Bengal.<ref name=":1"></ref>
Starting in 2005, an uptick of blood-transmissible disease infections was reported by several medical facilities in West Bengal.<ref name=":3" /> In particular, it was noted that these was a marked increase previously-unaffected people being diagnosed with HIV and Hepatitis C and B. These complaints were investigated, and in September 2006 the [[NRS Medical College]] Blood Bank uncovered that thousands of blood test kits sold by Monozyme India had had their expiration date tampered with or removed.<ref name=":1" /> Testing found that these older, expired tests were defective and thus unable to determine if blood was infected. In repose, the Indian police raided over 75 facilities that may be in possession of expired blood test kits, and a warning was sent out by the West Bengali healthcare network. As a result of the police raids, it was found that Monozyme India had sold 140,000 blood test kits between December 2004 and August 2006.<ref name=":4"></ref><ref name=":1" />
In light of the findings of West Bengali police and healthcare system, an investigation was launched regarding potential negligence by Monozyme India.<ref name=":1" /> In particular, there was concern that the company had knowingly violated the [[Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940]], which prohibited the tampering of expiration dates on drugs.<ref name=":1" /> Random tests on the seized blood test kits showed that almost all of the kits were defective in some way; as such, legal and criminal action was taken against several high-level employees at Monozyme India. Particular focus was placed on two brothers, Ghanashyam and Govind Sarda. Govind was the owner of Monozyme India, and Ghanashyam had been managing director of the company from April 2005 to August 2006.<ref name=":1" /> Ghanashyam received considerable coverage in the media after he was arrested at an airport in Calcutta, allegedly while attempting to flee the country.<ref name=":3"></ref><ref name=":2"></ref> Govid was also arrested.<ref name=":2" />
=== Aftermath ===
In the aftermath of the situation, Indian authorities conducted a number of probes into the healthcare system of West Bengal.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
== References ==
November 19, 2018 at 10:22AM
