One of the patients left blinded by a cataract surgery camp in Ambala cantonment.
At least 15 patients were left blinded after being treated at a cataract surgery camp in Haryana's Ambala cantonment area last week. The victims complained of loss of vision after being operated upon at the camp organised at a charitable hospital on November 24.
The Haryana health authorities are contemplating action against the organisers.
The Ambala-based Sarva Kalyan Sewarth Charitable Eye Hospital charged poor patients between Rs 6000 to Rs 12000 for a cataract operation. All 15 patients, who were operated upon, reported loss of vision. After which, they were allegedly bundled into a van and dumped at the PGI Advanced Eye Center.
One of the patients, Lal Chand told NDTV, "I took Rs 10000 as loan from my factory owner. How will I return it, now that I can't work for another three months? Doctors here say that it will take a lot of time for my eye to recover from the infection. I have two kids. I am the only bread winner for my family."
Other victims, like 42-year-old auto driver Sanjay face a similar situation.
The fluid used for the cataract surgery may have been contaminated leading to infections, Dr Jagat Ram, HoD, of the Advanced Eye Center told mediapersons. "Out of 15 patients, we are discharging 14 as they are now showing signs of recovery," he said.
This is second such case in Haryana since March this year. Officials of the health department have collected samples from the hospital for further investigations. Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, said, "I have asked the CMO (Chief Medical Officer) to submit a report...on the basis of which we will take strict action. It is mandatory to take take permission from the CMO to hold such camps...but the NGO did not do so."
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.