Two lose vision partially after botched up surgery in Kangra

DHARAMSHALA: Two people, including a woman, suffered partial eyesight loss after a botched up cataract surgery at a free eye camp at Fatehpur civil hospital in Kangra district.

The victims Nilima Devi and Pyar Singh belong to Takwal Kutwasi of Fatehpur subdivision.

The camp was organized from January 23 to February 5 under the National Health Mission in which a team of doctors from a private hospital conducted the cataract surgeries.

The matter came to light when the patients came for a routine check-up after 15 days of the surgery. Nilima allegedly lost vision in one eye while Pyar Singh complained of blurred eyesight.

When contacted, block medical officer (BMO), Fatehpur, Surender Bhardwaj said that the hospital authorities had provided all facilities to the team of doctors for organising the camp.

“Their payments have been put on hold for now,” he said.

Kangra chief medical officer (CMO) MS Rana said that a probe has been ordered. “Responsibility will be fixed and strict action will be taken,” Rana added.

The latest incident highlights the state of medical treatment in the state.

Thousands of people undergo cataract surgery in charity-run camps and government hospitals every year. The operations are generally considered to be low risk and easy to perform, but such incidents are not uncommon.

In December 2016, at least five people’s eyesights were affected after they underwent cataract surgeries at Dr Rajendera Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) in Kangra.

Two of them then underwent two-month long treatment at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, while three were operated upon by a retinal expert at Rotary Eye Hospital at Palampur.

THE VICTIMS HAD UNDERGONE A CATARACT SURGERY IN A CAMP ORGANISED BY THE NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION