A 64-year-old man from the Parel area of Mumbai is in critical condition and on life support after a medical store gave him the wrong medicine.
The man and his wife were on antidepressants. After they ran out, the wife went to restock the medicines from Bhartiya Generic Aushadhe near the famous KEM hospital. The store is an initiative for people to purchase generic medicines directly from the name of the constituent of the medicine rather than a particular brand name.
However, this time around the couple had to pay a huge price. It was later revealed that the couple was instead taking Methotrexate 7.5 mg tablets. Methotrexate is a chemotherapy agent and an immune system suppressant. Methotrexate 7.5 mg is usually used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. According to reports, the couple was taking the medicine for around 10-15 days.
The police have arrested the pharmacist Mangya Vasave (25) under the IPC Section 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act endangering the life or personal safety of others). The woman had even questioned Vasave about the medicine, to which he replied that it has the same constituent as the antidepressant which she normally takes.
The 64-year-old man started developing patches on his body. He also had a fever and complained of breathlessness. Their son admitted him to the KEM Hospital. After the doctors asked for the medical history of the patient, it was revealed that they had been taking the wrong medicine.
The man is currently unresponsive and is on life support in the ICU. The woman is also under observation as her platelets have decreased rapidly. Their son demands strict measures be taken against the pharmacist.
(Input from various media sources)