CHANDIGARH, June 15 — As if the very use of "sub-standard" medicines and" injurious" anesthetic drugs was not enough now comes the disturbing news how "wrong administration" of drugs has caused at least three deaths . Besides it has rendered one " brain-dead" .

This tragedy has occurred in the Rajindera Hospital attached to the Government Medical College, Patiala.

Informed sources , on condition of anonymity , told TNS that at least four such incidents took place there in a span of a fortnight . At least two cases pertain to Saturday last :

One Dalbar Khan (35) was operated upon . He required a small perforation in the intestine. He was wheeled to the ward after the operation, where a trainee nurse allegedly administered him an anesthetic drug, Succinylcholine, instead of giving him a painkiller. He died later. Apparently no entry was made in the file.

The second case pertains to a gynecology patient (name not being disclosed) who was allegedly given formalin instead of Metrogyl ; again by a trainee nurse while staff nurse was either busy or absent .

Ravinder Kaur( 40) underwent an operation of her abdomen. This was on May 20. The antibiotic injection given to her caused a severe reaction. Before any medical help could be given she died. There was, sources said, no one in the ward to attend to her.

Another patient, Tarlochan Kaur( 45) underwent a hip-replacement operation 10 days ago. She was in special room 26. She too was administered an anesthetic drug , Pavlon, a muscle-relaxant which causes respiratory distress , rather than a painkiller. She became "brain-dead". She is in the PGI, Chandigarh.

The sources said Medical Superintendent, did constitute a committee. But its outcome is not known. "Perhaps, an eye-wash".

When TNS inquired about these incidents , the authorities concerned at Patiala were either unaware or feigned ignorance . They wanted details. Some case names were given. Now, it is authoritatively learnt , operation "cover up" is on. The files of patients are being re-constructed to make their death look "natural".

It is pertinent to mention that the purchase of sub-standard or injurious anesthetic drugs by agencies concerned, like the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) had created ripples in the state. In fact the Government Analyst at the Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar, who tested ampules of Lignocain 2% supplied by a Meerut - based pharmaceutical firm - were found to have some "growth". It had to be withdrawn. The PCMS doctors Association had raised a hue and cry, in March-April , over purchase and supply of this to the hospitals .

Scores of women who underwent laproscopic tubectomy operations at the government hospitals and family welfare centers between October and January, became victims of anesthetic drug Lingocain used at the time of operation.

The PHSC through its circular , January 24, 2000, while admitting the sample was sub-standard asked the deputy medical commissioners in the state to "stop further use and distribution of the drug" and "intimate the balance of the unconsumed stock lying in the peripheral institutions". It is learnt that later the PHSC forfeited the performance security of the firm involved , stopped further payments and asked for fresh stock. But the damage had been done.