Health dept. begins detailed inquiry into death of two undergoing dialysis at Haripad taluk hospital in Kerala

A team of officials deputed by the Director of Health Services has begun a detailed inquiry into the incident wherein two patients who developed adverse reactions while they were undergoing haemodialysis at the Government taluk hospital at Haripad died two days later.

The dialysis unit in the hospital was closed on Wednesday afternoon (December 31, 2025) and it will remain closed for 15 days till all microbiological and other evaluations are completed. All the patients who were undergoing maintenance dialysis at Haripad have been allotted slots at the Mavelikara district hospital.

The dead were identified as Majeed (53), a resident of Kayamkulam, and Ramachandran (60), of Haripad. Both had been on thrice-a-week maintenance haemodialysis for over five years.

The taluk headquarters hospital, Haripad, does maintenance dialysis for 28 patients daily in four shifts. On December 29, 2025, four patients in the morning shift had developed chills and vomiting, following which three were referred to the Alapuzha Government Medical College Hospital.

Majeed, who had been admitted with serious ECG variations, died at the MCH on the night of December 30. Ramachandran, who was moved to a private hospital, died on the morning of December 31. One person is currently under treatment at the MCH and his condition is satisfactory.

Two patients in the second shift on December 29 and two others who underwent dialysis on December 30 at the taluk hospital too had developed some adverse reactions but they were not serious and they completed the dialysis, hospital sources said.

Hospital authorities said that shivers or chills was a common side reaction experienced by many patients on dialysis and that the water samples were checked regularly and the dialysis machines also serviced on a regular basis. The water samples taken on December 29 and a sample of the electrolyte collected from the dialysis machine were tested and found to be sterile.

A spot inquiry was conducted by the Alapuzha District Medical Officer (DMO) on Wednesday. On Thursday, a full technical evaluation was conducted by a Health department team, including a microbiologist and a biomedical safety engineer, but they could not find anything adverse.

“We are now going in for a full battery of tests, of the water and the water tank in the hospital, including tests for endotoxins. Post-disinfection samples have been collected from the dialysis unit for tests again. The dialysis machines will be serviced again. We have also requested the Drugs Control department to test the samples of IV fluids and the blood thinner medication heparin administered to patients,” Arun Jacob, Superintendent of the Haripad taluk hospital, said. Dr. Jacob said that detailed investigations were on to determine if the patients had any blood infections and if it was hospital-acquired.

Senior Congress leader, Ramesh Chennithala, had contacted Health Minister Veena George demanding an inquiry into the incident. Ms. George said in a statement that she had asked for a detailed report.