Access to basic healthcare still remains a necessity for majority of Indians. While people from underprivileged background cannot afford private hospitals, going to government hospitals puts them in a more vulnerable position. Haryana has once again drawn flak for medical negligence and botched up surgeries that might render 38 patients blind.
Times of India reported that 38 elderly patients had undergone cataract surgeries at three Haryana government hospitals in the second week of March. Just after the surgery, the patients started complaining of pain. While the doctor consoled them that experiencing pain right after the surgery was a natural occurrence, it had become unbearable by the next day.
On Wednesday, they were admitted to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak. A patient named Kamla Devi of Jind district said that when she went for a check up after the surgery, doctors detected pus in her eyes.
Photo: BCCL/Representative Image
It is learned that at least 400 patients had got their eyes operated at Bhiwani, Karnal and Jhajjar government hospitals on March 11, 13 and 18.
The doctors informed the media that their situation was quite serious. A doctor even said that it would be difficult to retain the eyesight of the patients¡¯ and their eyes might even have to be removed to curb the infection from spreading.
Dr Varun Arora, public relations office, PGIMS, confirmed that 38 patients had been brought to Rohtak medical college with eye infection and are being treated at the eye department.
Photo: BCCL
However, this is not the first time that Haryana¡¯s incompetency in dealing with medical issues has come to light. ?In 2015, India Today reported that 15 people were likely to lose sight after undergoing botched-up cataract surgery at a camp organised in the hometown of Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on November 24.
The eye surgeries were conducted by an Ambala NGO that too without any clearance from the government.
Possible reasons for loss of eyesight could be due to the contaminated fluid used during surgery.
In December 2014, at least 14 people have lost their vision after cataract surgery at a free eye camp organized without permission by an NGO in Punjab last month. The camp had been organised in severely unhygienic conditions with poorly sterilized equipment.
More details regarding the medical negligence will be released once a panel of doctors examine the patients on March 28.