The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak has decided to increase the production of IV fluids at its on-campus Glucose Manufacturing Unit from 1,000 bottles to 2,000 bottles per day.
The premier hospital, which has been elevated to the level of University of Health Sciences, aims to achieve higher production by procuring a new boiler for effective steam generation, a steriliser with a capacity of 500-bottle per cycle, necessary lab equipment, and additional technical and other manpower.
Stating this here today, Vice-Chancellor of the medical university Dr O P Kalra said while most medical colleges in the country purchased glucose and other IV fluids from the market, PGIMS manufactured a significant portion of such fluids used for the patients in its 1,700-bed hospital.
On-campus production of life-saving fluids gives two distinct advantages - one, the cost is a lot cheaper, and second, the products are easily available, Dr Kalra said, adding the IV fluids are manufactured as per GMP (good manufacturing practices) and GLP (good laboratory practices) norms.
The manufacturing capacity of the PGIMS plant has logged significant increase in production over the years. "We plan to expand the capacity further over the next year. In addition to the IV fluids used in routine care in general wards, ICUs and OTs, we are also manufacturing fluids used for haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis of patients with kidney failure. The dialysis fluid is manufactured in the GMU at one-fourth to one-fifth of the market cost," Dr Kalra said.
The Vice-Chancellor said they have sought approval for manufacturing the dialysis fluids to be used for continuous renal replacement therapy for dialysis of patients with critical illness having multi-organ failure.
Established in 1978, the on-campus Glucose Manufacturing Unit started with production of 70 bottles per day. The production grew to 600 bottles per day in 1995.
In 2001, the capacity further increased to 900 bottles per day. At present, with optimisation of all available resources and following modern management techniques, the production ranges between 1,000 and 1,200 bottles per day, Dr Kalra said.
