Surgeries took place at Sarvkalyan Eye and Charitable Hospital, Ambala.
By Sreekanth A Nair
At least 15 people lost their vision partially after undergoing cataract surgery at a hospital at Mahesh Nagar in Ambala in the state of Haryana.
The alleged botched-up surgery took place at Sarvkalyan Eye and Charitable Hospital, at Manu Market in Mahesh Nagar, Ambala, on November 24.
After the operation, the victims were given treatment at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
Anil Vij, the Health Minister of Haryana, has ordered a departmental inquiry into the issue.
Reports say that the hospital didn’t have the permission to conduct a medical camp for cataract surgery. The surgeries were allegedly conducted by Dr Charanjit Singh.
Ambala sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Shakti Singh said that an inquiry has started and civil surgeon Dr. VK Gupta has been asked to investigate the issue.
DNA quoted Dr. VK Gupta saying, “The society had no mandatory clearance from us to hold the 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.”
“However, without permission they conducted the camp. Our team had raided the hospital, but it is locked. Case had been registered in this connection by the police regarding negligence on the complaint of the SMO,” he added.
The patients reportedly paid between Rs. 6000 to Rs. 12000 to conduct the surgery. Many of them borrowed money to meet the expenses. The patients who lost the vision are in the age group of 45 to 60.
India Today quoted Sanjeev Kumar, 45, an auto rickshaw driver, as saying, “I had deposited some amount for my eye operation, a part of the expenses was paid by borrowing from friends. I am not able to see anything from the eye. Don’t know how I will drive the rickshaw now and how will run my family.”
“It was not at all a medical camp but a routine OPD. I treat patients at the highly subsidized prices at the hospital and I am successfully performing surgeries in Ambala for over 15 years. But this time something terribly went wrong and I feel bad for my patients. I duly accepted my moral duty and admitted all patients to the PGIMER. I am even bearing their medical expenses,” Dr Charanjit Singh was quoted as saying by The Hindustan Times.
In a similar incident in Panipat, in March of this, 13 patients had lost their eyesight.