Gujarat orders probe into partial blinding of 35 patients

By Our Special Correspondent

GANDHINAGAR, JULY 27. The Gujarat Government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged partial blinding of about 35 patients following eye surgeries in a charitable hospital in Ahmedabad earlier this month.

The Health Minister, Mr. Suresh Mehta, and the Health Secretary, Mr S.K. Nanda, visited the Hargovinddas Prabhudas Sadvichar Parivar Eye Hospital in Naroda area in Ahmedabad where 22 patients complained of having lost eye sight while at least 15 others have been readmitted in the hospital with complaints of severe burning and infection after undergoing cataract operation.

Most of the patients were above 60 years and had undergone cataract operation and implanting of intra-ocular lens (IOL) in the hospital. At least 22 of them claimed they could not see anything from the operated eye.

The hospital managing trustee, Mr. Haribhai Panchal, said the hospital was conducting eye camps for the last two decades operating an average of 2,500 patients per year. ``It was the first time we are confronting such a problem.''

He blamed the Ringer-Lactate (RL) eye irrigating solution used for creating a sterile operating field for the infection. The fluid was supplied by a Mumbai-based manufacturing company. It was suspected that it was contaminated.

Mr. Nanda has ordered confiscation of the samples of the drugs used in the operation and has also asked the Foods and Drugs Commissioner to put the batch out of circulation as a precautionary measure.

Similar partial blinding cases have also been reported from various other centres in the State, including the Government Hospitals in Jamnagar, and other places during the last few months. Though some of the government doctors were suspended following the incidents, experts attribute it to the over-zealous attitude of the Government in achieving ``targets'' in eye operations at the cost of ``safety and caution.''

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