Saroj Kumar Rai (40) met with a road accident on September 20. While doctors were able to save his life, they could not save his left leg. Reason: Despite a two-day search across the state, his relatives could not find the 40,000 units of anti-gangrene serum that was required. An inquiry by The Indian Express revealed that the serum is not available in chemist shops even in bigger cities of Uttar Pradesh. Even hospitals like Chhatrapati Shahuji Medical University, Balrampur Hospital and Baranas Hindu University have not received any supply for a year.The problem began when the biggest manufacturer of the anti-gangrene serum in the country, the Thane-based Bharat Serum and Vaccine Ltd, stopped production about one-and-a-half-year ago.“The supply to the wholesale market stopped nearly two months ago,” said Giriraj Rastogi, wholesale drug supplier and executive member of the Chemist and Druggist Association of UP. An official of Bharat Serum and Vaccine said: “Three important microbes required for the serum are not available in India. We tried to import them from Russia but the arrangement did not last long.” Dr Ajay Singh, Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopedics at CSMMU, said: “We keep getting patients who need the injections. But only the lucky ones get it.” Officials of Health Department are unaware of the problem. “There was some shortage. But no one has informed us in writing,” said Dr AK Pandey, Drug Controller, Uttar Pradesh.
