New GPC instructed to recall, replace defective soda lime supplied to GPHC

May 02, 2017 News

The New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation [New GPC] has been instructed to recall a quantity of substandard soda lime it supplied to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC]. The New GPC is a major supplier for

A soda lime label which warns that product should not be used if the granules are crushed.

drugs, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for the local health sector.
Soda lime is a type of sodium hydroxide used to help patients breathe while under anaesthesia.
According to information reaching this publication, theatre staff of the GPHC first made the observation that the soda lime had deteriorated from granular to powdered form, thus making it useless to the ventilator used to help patients breathe while undergoing surgery.
This troubling situation Kaieteur News has learnt, has gained the attention of the Ministry of Public Health, which has endorsed a move by the GPHC to instruct the New GPC to recall the substandard product and replace same forthwith.
Moreover hospital administrators, by way of email, have written to the NGPC stating that the GPHC is “strongly objecting to its use and is requesting another batch of Soda Lime.”
When the GPHC alerted the local supplier about the defective product, it also reminded the company that the batch “cannot be used because of the possibility of environmental and health safety effects.”
“Technically, the Soda Lime mixture is used for carbon dioxide absorption in the anaesthetic breathing system. The granule size must be 4-8 mesh so that the total volume of space between each granule is equal,” the GPHC reminded the NGPC in its email.
It was pointed out, too, that the degradation from granular to powdered form raises several additional health challenges. These include: increased resistance of the gas passing through; reduction of the amount of carbon dioxide needed to be absorbed by the patient, and the fact that dust can escape from the canister through the circuit to the patients causing irritation to the upper respiratory tract and mucus membranes.
Other toxicological effects that can be caused include skin and eye irritation to patients and lung injury to the staff handling the powdered form of the soda lime.
According to a statement issued by the Public Health Ministry yesterday on the matter, officials have confirmed that this is the first time that such a complaint has emanated from the GPHC.
The complaint by the theatre staff, the Ministry has informed, went through the official channel and was forwarded to the company. In response to the hospital’s concern via email too, the company assured, “The hospital’s concerns have been noted and we will take immediate action to recall the remaining amounts.”
This, according to information from the Public Health Ministry, will translate to the New GPC replacing a total of 14 bottles of the defective product as soon as its order of the stock arrives in the country.
In the interim, the GPHC, the only referral hospital in Guyana, currently has no soda lime in stock. However, in case of an emergency, the semi-autonomous agency can request supplies from the Woodlands Hospital in Georgetown, a source said. The source said the two institutions routinely assist each other. It was also confirmed yesterday afternoon that at the time, the GPHC had no patients needing the product.
As such the GPHC yesterday was able to assure the nation, through the Public Health Ministry, that despite the prevailing situation, there is no need for patients to panic.