Dengue Patient Death: 10 Arrested For Selling Fake Platelets In Prayagraj

Police in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested ten members of a gang that is allegedly involved in selling fake platelets to patients.

Senior Superintendent of Police Shailesh Kumar Pandey said on Friday that the accused used to take plasma from different blood banks and then put it in pouches and sell the plasma as platelets.

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Arrested after tip-off

The arrests were made following a tip-off, he said, adding some fake platelet pouches were seized from the possession of the accused.

Pandey also said 12 people were arrested a few days ago for allegedly supplying blood in an illegal manner.

"These people sell plasma as platelets. A sample is being sent to a laboratory and a correct picture will emerge only after an examination," the SP said.

Patient's death after fake plasma transfusion

The arrests were made days after a massive controversy erupted in the city following the death of a dengue patient, who died during treatment allegedly after fake plasma was used for transfusion.

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The patient, Pradeep Pandey, was shifted to another hospital where he died after his condition deteriorated.

Following the patient's death, his relatives alleged that they were given bags marked as 'plasma' at the Global Hospital and Trauma Centre in Prayagraj when he was admitted there, but the content inside was sweet lime juice.

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After a video of the alleged incident went viral, the district administration swung into action and, on the direction of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, sealed the hospital.

The owner of the private hospital had claimed that the platelets were brought from a different medical facility and the patient developed a reaction after three units were transfused to him.

However, following the controversy, the hospital was sealed and samples were collected for examination.

Police yet to confirm sweet lime juice allegation

According to Prayagraj Police on Friday, it has not been established if the content in the bags was fruit juice or something else.

"During the course of interrogation, it has not been confirmed whether it was a fruit juice in the pouch or something else," the SP said.

Dengue cases in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh, like many states in the region, has been witnessing a surge in dengue cases in the past few weeks.

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Uttar Pradesh has so far registered over 2,200 dengue cases, with the state capital of Lucknow reporting over 400 cases.

Last week, the Union Health Ministry deputed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Uttar Pradesh to collaborate with the state authorities in instituting public health measures for dengue management in Firozabad, Agra, and Etawah districts.

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