Eye ops in Haryana govt hospitals halted
Vishal Joshi
Tribune News Service
Kurukshetra, March 31
Scores of elderly patients planning cataract surgery at government hospitals will have to wait as the state authorities have decided to suspend all eye operations indefinitely.
Health Minister Anil Vij today told The Tribune that the decision was taken after cases of post-cataract surgery complications were reported recently. He said the eye operations would resume once it was ensured that medicines used in the procedure were strictly as per the standards.
In March, at least 62 elderly patients were diagnosed with infections after they underwent cataract surgery at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Civil Hospital (LNJPCH), Kurukshetra, and Kishanlal Jalan Government Eye Hospital, Bhiwani.
According to officials, the two government hospitals were known for organising a maximum number of cataract surgeries in the state.
On March 20, The Tribune had reported that 24 patients were admitted to PGI, Chandigarh, with the post-surgery bacterial infection after cataract operations at the Kurukshetra hospital.
Later, 38 other patients were admitted to PGIMS, Rohtak, with post-cataract operation complications from other districts. At least 19 had to undergo fresh surgeries on March 28.
While the health authorities claim prima facie bacterial infection was caused by contamination in fluids used in the surgery, officials said any possible delay by state agencies in realising suspected shortcomings in the medicines supplied for the cataract surgeries needed to be looked into.
“Botched eye surgeries at government hospitals are not common in Haryana and any attempt to downplay the incidents must be probed,” said a health official. The minister, however, denied any such delay or cover-up. “After cases from the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Civil Hospital were reported, it was suspected to be a case of issues generated from the local conditions there. But as the department found more cases from Bhiwani, medical supplies in all hospital were suspended immediately,” said the minister.
Vij said he would summon the report submitted by Dr Asruddin, Director, Health Services, about his findings into the 24 cases from the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Civil Hospital. “Strict action will be initiated on the basis of an inquiry report,” the minister said.
