Free eye camp victims could regain vision

DHARAMSHALA: Himachal Pradesh government on Monday said as many as three people out of the eight - who got blind following cataract surgery during the free eye camp in March last year - could regain vision.
The health department conducted tests on victims and reports have been sent to higher authorities for further action. Health officials conducted a re-checkup of eight victims, belonging to Kandwal area of Nurpur subdivision.
"We got them re-examined at Tanda medical college. The reports reached us today and it is maintained that three people could recover from blindness while five have gone completely blind. The reports have been sent for further action," said BM Gupta, Chief Medical Officer of Kangra district.
"Eight victims were re-examined at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda at Kangra to explore possibilities for restoring their eyesight," he said.
"The medical checkup was conducted on December 27. RPGMC authorities submitted the report today and suggest that the vision of three patients could be restored. But unfortunately there is no hope for other five victims," said Gupta.
The said patients had undergone cataract surgeries at a private clinic in Pathankot town of Punjab during a free camp organized by an NGO - Nagni Mata Prabandhak Committee - in March last year. The matter, however, came to light following the complaint of one of the victims to state authorities and Medical Council of India (MCI) in December.
Initial probe conducted by the state health department had indicated presence of dangerous pseudomonas bacteria in the medicine used by the patients after surgeries.
Himachal Pradesh government is mulling to move consumer court against the pharmaceutical firm for getting compensation for the victims.
The probe conducted by state health department indicated presence of dangerous pseudomonas bacteria in the medicine used by the patients. Victims used Avisi Hyloreye drops - manufactured by Chennai-based Appaswamy Associates - which comes in 3 ml packing costing Rs 72.
"The government is considering moving consume court against the pharmaceutical firm on behalf of victims for compensation as the contaminated medicine caused the loss of vision among the patients," said Vineet Chawdhary, additional chief secretary (health).
"We have also written to the Tamil Nadu government to lift the samples of the medicine of the batch used by the victims for examination and further action," he added.