15 people lose vision after botched-up surgeries in Haryana

At least 15 people lost their vision after they underwent cataract surgery during an eye camp held last week at a private clinic in Ambala, Haryana, about 42-km from capital Chandigarh.

“The operation theatre was not found properly sterilised and well-equipped”.

PGI specialists said the possible reason for loss of eyesight could be the contaminated fluid used during the surgeries.

The registration of the hospital was also unsatisfactory.

The alleged botched-up surgery took place at Sarvkalyan Eye and Charitable Hospital, at Manu Market in Mahesh Nagar, Ambala, on November 24.

Dr Gupta said these societies hold such camps as they get huge incentive amounting to Rs 1000 per person operated upon.

However, Dr Charanjit said that most of the patients were alright after the surgery and were operated upon in a proper manner.

Please Wait while comments are loading… “Eye-sight of 14 out of 15 people is improving, though very little”, said the Minister.

However, Dr Charanjit Singh of the charitable society told the newspersons that the operations were conducted as part of routine exercise and there was no eye operation camp. “They had applied for permission in 2013, but it was denied by us as we first wanted to conduct an inspection of the hospital and get details of the surgeons who will conduct operations”, Gupta said.

Reacting to the incident, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said that the patients were being given treatment. He met the patients in Chandigarh and announced that the Haryana government will bear their medical expenses and extend monetary help to the needy ones.

Gupta said the medical facility where the victims underwent surgery “doesn’t meet any of the government’s set infrastructure standards for such a facility”.

The surgery to cure cataract was reportedly performed on November 24. “In PGI, these patients were treated with antibiotic injections in the eye besides topical and intravenous antibiotics”, the spokesperson said, adding that 11 patients required surgical procedure”, she said.

She said that 12 patients are being discharged today on oral and topical drugs and advised follow up.