Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has ordered the immediate withdrawal of 10 medicine batches after analytical tests identified quality failures in eight batches and physical defects were found in two others. The hospital says no severe adverse effects have been reported so far.

Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital has recalled 10 batches of medicines after they were either classified as “Not of Standard Quality” (NSQ) following analytical testing or found to have visible physical defects. The Centre-run hospital has directed its departments and wards to stop using the affected medicines and return the stocks to designated drug units.

According to a report by The Times of India, the medicines include treatments used for seizure disorders, heart conditions, abnormal heart rhythms, depression and postpartum bleeding. The recalls were communicated through four notices issued between September 7 and September 14.

The development has drawn attention to medicine quality monitoring within healthcare institutions, particularly where medicines are administered to patients with serious or time-sensitive medical conditions.

Eight Drug Batches Fail Analytical Testing

Of the 10 recalled batches, eight failed analytical quality tests. These included three batches of tablets and five batches of injectable medicines.

In a notice dated September 14, RML Hospital’s oral and topical drug unit identified three tablet batches as NSQ:

• Sodium valproate gastro-resistant 200 mg: Used in the management of certain seizure disorders.

• Spironolactone 50 mg: Used for conditions including heart failure and fluid retention.

• Imipramine 25 mg: A medicine used in the treatment of depression and certain other conditions.

On the same day, the hospital’s injectable drug unit ordered the recall of five batches that had also failed analytical testing. These included adenosine, methyl ergometrine, multivitamin injection, pheniramine maleate and ascorbic acid.

The reported information does not specify the precise analytical parameters that each of these eight batches failed to meet. Consequently, the findings establish that the batches did not meet the required quality standards, but do not by themselves explain the nature or severity of every individual failure.

Two Tablet Batches Found in Powder Form

In addition to the analytical failures, the hospital identified physical defects in two batches of tablets manufactured by Glowson India Labs Pvt Ltd.

A notice dated September 9 flagged isosorbide mononitrate 20 mg, batch number ABT6711, after tablets were found in powder form inside their strip packaging. The batch was manufactured in July 2026 and carried an expiry date of June 2028.

A similar issue had been reported two days earlier involving metoprolol 50 mg, batch number ABT6608, from the same manufacturer. Tablets from this batch were also found to have disintegrated into powder inside the packaging.

The affected departments were instructed to discontinue the medicines and return the batches to the hospital store with the required documentation.

The defects were identified before the stated expiry dates of the batches, highlighting why medicine quality checks need to consider the physical condition of products as well as their labelled shelf life.

Why Quality Failures Matter for Critical Treatments

The affected medicines serve different clinical purposes, making the recalls relevant across several areas of patient care.

Sodium valproate is used for seizure disorders, while spironolactone and metoprolol are prescribed for certain cardiovascular conditions. Adenosine is used in the management of specific rapid heart rhythms, and methyl ergometrine is used to control bleeding after childbirth.

The clinical implications of a quality failure depend on the medicine, the nature of the defect and the extent to which the product fails to meet its required specifications. The available report does not establish that every affected batch posed the same level of risk or that patients experienced harm from each medicine.

The hospital’s instruction to stop using the affected batches is intended to prevent further use of products identified as non-compliant or physically defective while the withdrawal process is completed.

Hospital Reports No Severe Adverse Effects So Far

RML Hospital said no severe adverse effects had been reported among end users in connection with the affected batches as of the latest update cited in the report.

The hospital also instructed departments to report patient-related problems and arranged alternative medicines to help ensure that treatment could continue without disruption.

According to the report, some medicine samples were supplied by Jackson Laboratories Pvt Ltd. The available information does not establish that the supplier was responsible for all 10 recalled batches, and the reported details should not be interpreted as a finding of liability against any particular company.

The hospital’s notices also specified deadlines for returning the affected stocks. The NSQ batches were to be returned by September 18, while the two defective tablet batches were to be returned within three days of their respective notices.

Withdrawal Process and Documentation

The recall instructions require hospital departments and wards to identify the affected batches, discontinue their use and return the remaining stocks through the prescribed channels.

Batch numbers, manufacturing details and expiry dates are important in such exercises because they help distinguish affected products from other batches of the same medicine. Proper documentation can also help hospitals track returned inventory and establish whether any of the affected stock remains in circulation within their facilities.

The reported notices describe the hospital’s withdrawal instructions, but do not provide a complete account of any subsequent regulatory investigation or final findings on the underlying manufacturing or quality-control issues.

Outlook: Stronger Quality Checks Remain Essential

The recall of 10 drug batches at RML Hospital highlights the importance of analytical testing, physical inspection, batch traceability and prompt communication within healthcare systems. These safeguards are particularly important for medicines used to manage chronic conditions and urgent medical needs.

The hospital’s decision to withdraw the affected batches and arrange alternatives is intended to maintain continuity of treatment while limiting further use of products identified through the quality-control process.

Further clarity on the specific test failures, the causes of the tablet defects and any subsequent regulatory findings would help establish the full circumstances behind the recalls. For now, the reported action underscores the role of hospital-level monitoring in identifying quality concerns and responding before they lead to further problems.