The National Medical Stores (NMS) in Uganda is at the centre of a major public health alert following the recall of a defective and dangerous drug from all health facilities.
A directive from NMS General Manager Moses Kamabare has ordered the immediate recall of all stock of Calcium Gluconate Injection 10% W/V, emphasising the seriousness of the situation for patient safety, following a directive from the National Drug Authority (NDA) to that effect.
Urgent Recall of the Defective Drug
The official notice from NMS identifies the recalled product as Calcium Gluconate injection 10% W/V, Batch KBU24001.
This specific batch was manufactured by Farbe Firma PVT Ltd in India and supplied to NMS by Crux Pharma (U).
The directive instructs all health facilities to immediately stop using the product, collect all available stock, and return it to NMS by December 14, 2025. The swift action comes in response to an order from the NDA after the drug was found to be “defective and dangerous to human health.”
“National Medical Stores, on behalf of the contracted supplier, is recalling Calcium Gluconate injection 10% W/V Batch KBU24001 supplied by Crux Pharma (U) to NMS,” the notice by Kamabare reads in part.
The notice reads in part thus;
“RECALL OF GLUCONATE INJECTION 10% W/V VIALS, BATCH KBU24001, MANUFACTURED BY FARBE FARMA PVT, LTD
National Medical Stores, on behalf of the contracted supplier, is recalling Calcium Gluconate injection 10% W/V Batch KBU24001 supplied by Crux Pharma (U) to NMS with the details below:
Calcium Gluconate injection 10% W/V
Batch: KBU24001
MFG Date: Sep-2024
EXP Date: Aug -27
Manufacturer: Farbe Firma PVT Ltd, Plot No.1508, GIDC, Ankleshwar, Gujarat 393002, India
The product has been recalled as per the attached copy of the NDA letter.
National Medical Stores is therefore requesting you to stop further use of the product.
Collect data on the availability of stock and return all the stock to NMS when drivers deliver to your facility. The remaining stock should reach NMS before 14th/12/2025…”
The Drug’s Purpose and Its Deadly Side Effects
While the specific defect of the recalled batch was not disclosed by NMS, Calcium Gluconate 10% is a drug used to treat a number of serious conditions.
It is primarily administered to patients with hypocalcemia, a condition characterised by dangerously low calcium levels in the blood.
It is also used to manage conditions like hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) and magnesium sulfate overdose.
Due to the critical nature of these conditions, the drug is typically administered intravenously in a controlled medical setting.
When administered improperly or if the drug is defective, the side effects can be severe and life-threatening. The deadly side effects associated with Calcium Gluconate 10% include:
Cardiac Arrest: Rapid intravenous injection can lead to dangerously high calcium levels, causing a sudden and fatal cessation of heart function.
Hypotension: A sharp drop in blood pressure can occur, leading to a state of shock.
Bradycardia: The drug can slow the heart rate to a critically low level.
Syncope: Fainting or loss of consciousness due to a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain.
Other serious, though not always fatal, side effects include severe pain or tissue necrosis at the injection site and hypercalcemia.
The recall of this specific batch is therefore a critical measure to prevent potential harm and ensure the safety of patients across Uganda.
However, efforts to secure a comment from the NMS about the matter were futile by press time, as our phone calls to their office remained unanswered.