NHRC issues notice to UP chief secretary

KANPUR/LUCKNOW: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government in connection with the eye surgeries performed on 32 patients in torchlight at a primary health centre at Nawabganj in Unnao.

The incident had prompted the authorities to transfer chief medical officer (CMO) Rajendra Prasad and suspend PHC superintendent Dr Dinesh Dass for negligence and violation of norms. A magisterial inquiry by an IAS officer and joint magistrate Manish Bansal is also underway.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the NHRC issued notice to UP chief secretary Rajive Kumar asking the government to provide the details of the case.

The NHRC said the incident showed negligence on the part of the doctors and the dismal state of facilities at government hospitals. Meanwhile, people associated with Jagdamba Seva Samiti, the NGO that brought the patients to the PHC, took away the register and other details of the patients to hamper investigations into the case.

“Members of the NGO have deliberately taken away the registers to stall the probe. We are following the leads,” said a senior official.

The surgeries were performed by Dr Nutan Saxena and two others.

After the procedure, the patients were made to lie on the floor for more than six hours in biting cold and were provided blankets and mattresses only after the district magistrate rushed a team of medical officers to Nawabganj, sources said.

Senior officials said the inquiry which was to conclude in 24 hours would take another 48 hours.

Officials said certain leads had been found about the identity of the patients and teams were being sent to their villages. The district authorities also recorded statements of health officials and others to come up with a comprehensive report.

There is an acute shortage of ophthalmologists in Uttar Pradesh and to bridge the gap, the state government has entered into a contract with NGOs.

For Monday’s surgeries, the NGO was to be paid Rs 1,000 per patient, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Medical Services Association (PMSA) has condemned action against doctors and said the probe would establish who was at fault.

General secretary of PMSA Dr Amit Singh said the NGO’s role should be investigated.

Additional general secretary of PMSA Dr AK Tripathi, who is deputed in Unnao, said: “The role of the NGO is suspicious but the final picture will be clear once the investigation is over. Doctors have been suspended to ensure transparency in the probe. It is a normal procedure.”