A routine hospital visit turned into a frightening experience for a patient at JP Hospital when a dead insect was found inside a sealed bottle of mouthwash prescribed for throat pain. The discovery, reported on January 9, 2026, has intensified scrutiny of medicine safety at the government-run facility, especially as it follows a recent complaint of fungus-contaminated tablets from the same hospital.
The patient visited JP Hospital earlier this week after developing throat pain and irritation. Doctors prescribed a mouthwash, which the patient collected from the hospital pharmacy. The bottle appeared factory sealed. However, upon opening it at home, the patient noticed visible contamination, including a dead insect floating inside the liquid.
Just days earlier, in the first week of January 2026, another patient at the same hospital alleged that tablets supplied by the pharmacy showed fungal growth, despite being within the expiry date. Together, these cases suggest a pattern of lapses rather than a one-time error.
Reacting to the mouthwash incident, Dr Manish Sharma, the Chief Medical and Health Officer of Bhopal, acknowledged the complaint. He confirmed that hospital officials had taken the matter seriously and ordered an immediate review.
He told India Today, "This committee will monitor the storage and quality of medicines in the hospital. Whoever is found guilty will be acted upon as per rules."
Dr Sharma announced the formation of a special investigation committee to examine both cases. The committee includes health department officials and drug administration experts. Its mandate is to check medicine storage practices, supply chains, and dispensing procedures at JP Hospital.
Following the complaints, hospital authorities began inspecting medicine stocks in the pharmacy and storage areas. Suspected batches have been set aside for laboratory testing. Officials stated that if negligence is established, strict disciplinary action will be taken against those responsible.
Health officials also indicated that the investigation will look into humidity, cleanliness, and temperature control in storage rooms, factors known to contribute to fungal growth and contamination.
The investigation committee is expected to submit its findings in the coming days. Authorities have promised transparent action and corrective measures to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
(Rh/ARC)