Need to stop botched cataract surgeries from claiming vision

Dec, 2015
Recently, in the last couple of months there has been increased incidence of botched cataract surgeries all across India. 15 patients lose eyesight in Ambala, Haryana in Nov, 2015 and in the bigger cataract surgery menace in in Barwani district , Madhya Pradesh in Dec 2015, around 40 patients have lost their eyesight and only five of them were able to get back their vision after Doctors from AIIMS, New Delhi had tried hard to restore their vision. Also, two more  similar incidents happened last month; one in Maharashtra where 23 people lost their eye sight while in Chandigarh-15 people suffered partial vision loss after undergoing cataract surgeries.

Questions arise that in the period of advancement of technologies and better healthcare provisions, why are such incidents occurring repetitively? Who are actually responsible for such plightful conditions? Who are answerable to the poor ignorant people who have lost their livelihood with loss of vision and who shall be fixed with responsibilities and punished for such devastations of a common man’s life ?

Also, it has been found that as soon as such cases gets reported, the blame game starts with the probe of the incidence. The ophthalmologist complains about the lack of quality of the medicine and medical device used during operation, the manufacturer of medicine asserts about no contamination of the medicine used and claims of following proper quality control measures for the sterilized ophthalmic drug, while the patients complain of unethical practice, lack of hygiene in operation theatre, improper post-operative condition and lack of guidance and medical care. 

Adding up, opposition political parties allege supply of fake and expiry date drugs in connivance with influential officials of health department which has resulted in such incidents.

We at PSM India, feel that such disgraceful incidents arise questions on the medical condition and primary healthcare service of India. India has been aspiring of achieving universal health coverage and proper health care measures for every Indian by 2020. With such progressive vision, there is a need to change our healthcare system from the grass root level. There is need of improved facilities for such random frequent operations which are majorly performed on large scale, need of adequate arrangement for such surgeries, recruitment of efficient loyal Doctors, nurses for such services and also up gradation of equipments, diagnostic systems and quality and compliance check of medicines and medical devices before conducting such massive surgeries.

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness globally and surgery is the only known measure to deal with it effectively. The number of persons in whom blindness is being averted due to cataract surgery in India is currently a very small fraction of the number who blind from cataract. If adequate attention is given to the quality of eye care for the current number of cataract surgeries in India it may be possible in curbing lost eyesight of many.