TS govt assures best treatment to eye surgery victims

Hyderabad: Describing as unfortunate the incident of some patients developing infection after cataract surgeries performed at a state-run hospital here, Telangana government on Wednesday said best treatment would be provided to the victims and action taken against those responsible.

Thirteen elderly patients, including women, contracted infection in their eyes, with seven of them suffering partial loss of vision after undergoing cataract surgery at the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital here last week. Health Minister C Lakshma Reddy, who visited the hospital, said the patients developed infection due to bacteria in cleaning fluids, an official release said.

The company that supplied fluids has been blacklisted and medicines of the concerned batch have been withdrawn and seized, he said. Cataract surgeries were performed in the hospital on June 30 and 13 patients were infected. The condition of eight victims has improved as the doctors responded quickly and five persons are still in the hospital. Among the five, the condition of three is better, while two persons are still suffering from infection, he said.

The government has made arrangements to provide better medical treatment to the suffering patients, he said. The government would take action on the company that supplied fluids, which caused the infection, Reddy said. Though the doctors appeared to be not at fault, criminal action would be taken for any lapses, the Minister said, adding the departmental enquiry would reveal the details.