In Punjab, the province with the greatest population in the country, serious eye infections and blindness were caused by Avastin, an injectable medicine used to treat diabetic eye disease and other visual problems. This forced authorities to intervene and limit the injection.
Punjab’s interim administration pulled the injection batch over the weekend and asked for a high-level probe while looking for local injection suppliers.
The administration of multiple shots by a five-person committee, with King Edward Medical University Dr. Asad Aslam Khan serving as convener, sent drug addicts into a frenzy.
According to reports in the local media, at least 12 people, including 12 patients and the brother and friend of PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor, lost their sight.
In addition, Mohsin Naqvi, the interim chief minister of Punjab, promised that anyone responsible for making non-sterile injections available while an inquiry was continuing would face prompt and severe punishment. He added that all affected patients would receive free treatment.
The province health minister, Dr. Nadeem Jan, also confirmed that a complaint had been made against the makers and that the government had taken all injections off the market.
According to officials, a multinational pharmaceutical company created and distributed Avastin injectable, which was sold by respectable businesses.
