Patient deaths due to severe drug allergies: expert committee

Recent patient deaths reported in the country were due to anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction to drugs), the Expert Committee to investigate the recent incidence of drug allergies and their after-effects said.

"Out of six cases analysed in detail, five met the criteria for anaphylaxis. However, comprehensive quality testing reports of the suspected drugs were not available at the time of the report," the expert committee concluded.

The committee said it identified aspects where the healthcare system can be improved in preventing, identifying, and managing anaphylaxis, and recommendations were made in the report.

The Committee was headed by Dr.Dedunu Dias, Director, Medical Research Institute (MRI). Other members included Prof. Chandima Jeewandara, Prof. of Allergy and Immunology; Prof. Priyadharshani Galapaththi, Prof. in Pharmacology; Dr.Senitha Liyanage, Consultant Emergency Physician; Prof. Nithushi Samaranayake, Prof. in Pharmacy; Prof. S.S.P. Warnakulasuriya, Prof. in Nursing; and Dr.Phillip H. Li, Board Director, Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology.

Among the recommendations are to revisit and establish national and institutional guidelines and protocols on anaphylaxis management and emergency management, develop a mandatory continuous professional development mechanism or training for medical and nursing officers on emergency management of anaphylaxis, and institute a compulsory mechanism to conduct institutional clinical audits for all life-threatening adverse incidents reported.

The Committee also recommended stringent evaluation of the quality of medicines during registration and post-marking quality testing of random samples.

The Committee recommended that the Health Ministry emphasise strict temperature control during the transportation of pharmaceuticals.

The experts also urged the Ministry to take speedy remedial actions on procedural and/or financial issues that may hinder the adequate supply of safe and effective drugs of acceptable quality to healthcare institutions.