Cataract patients who have lost eyesight at MKCG Hospital in Berhampur (file picture)

Cuttack, Aug. 29: The Orissa government today indicted JMJ Grace Vision Netralaya, Sambalpur, an NGO, of not adhering to the Union government’s guideline while conducting a cataract surgical camp at a sub-divisional hospital at Dharamgarh in Kalahandi in September 2010. Sixteen persons had lost eyesight after operation.

In an affidavit filed in Orissa High Court, the government said, an inquiry by the joint director, opthalmology, on the eye mishap had “ascertained that proper follow-up was not taken by the NGO where 1,210 cataract cases had been operated”.

The court was considering on fixation of liability to pay compensation to the victims.

“According to the Union government’s guideline, it is the responsibility of the NGO to do proper pre-operative examination and post-operative follow-up of all the cases and take necessary steps for management of complications. This aspect was not followed by JMJ Grace Vision Netralaya, where a large number of patients had been operated,” said commissioner-cum-secretary of the health and family welfare department Anu Garg in the affidavit filed today.

“Owing to the above lapses on part of the NGO, its payment has been stopped. At present, the government feels it is expedient to initiate appropriate action against the NGO,” said Anu.

Earlier, the court had directed the state government to submit a report on implementation of the National Programme for Control of Blindness, giving details on the number of NGOs involved in the process of implementation of the programme through the district blindness control societies and funds allocated to them.

The Orissa government had recognised 16 NGOs (base hospital) to conduct surgery camp for cataract operation.

“There is no fixed amount for any non-gogernment organisation. The NGOs conducting cataract operation get an amount of Rs 750 per case from the district blindness control society. During 2010-11, a sum of Rs 3,56,97,933 has been reimbursed by the NGOs for such purpose. It is appropriate to submit that the total amount has been spent and there is no surplus,” said Anu.

Taking note of the affidavit, the two-judge bench of Chief Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice B.N. Mohapatra directed the NGO to file an affidavit within a week giving details on the expenditure incurred while conducting the camp at the sub-divisional hospital at Dharamgarh from September 16 to 27, 2010. The next hearing on the case was fixed for Monday.

Advocate and human rights activist Prabir Kumar Das had filed a letter petition in the high court alleging that 16 persons had lost their eyesight owing to the doctors’ negligence and the authorities’ indifference at the mass operation in the cataract surgical camp.

Compensation was sought for the persons who had lost eyesight.

Taking note of it on April 6, the high court converted the letter petition into a PIL.

District and sessions judge (Kalahandi) Ashok Acharya, in pursuance of a high court order, had conducted an inquiry and confirmed in his report that 16 persons, who had undergone operation at the camp, lost their eyesight owing to post-operation complication and lack of immediate post-operation care.

Orissa government today indicted JMJ Grace Vision Netralaya, Sambalpur (an NGO) of not adhering to Government of India guideline while conducting the cataract surgical camp at Sub Divisional Hospital at Dharamgarh in Kalahandi in September 2010 in which 16 persons had lost eye sight after operation.

In an affidavit filed in the Orissa High Court the government said an enquiry by the Joint Director Opthalmology on the eye mishap had “ascertained that proper follow up was not taken by the NGO where 1210 cataract cases had been operated”.

The Court was considering on fixation of liability to pay compensation for loss of eye sight of 16 persons.

“As per the Government of India guideline it is the responsibility of the NGO to do proper pre-operative examination and post-operative follow-up of all the cases and also to take necessary steps for management of complications. This aspect was not followed by JMJ Grace Vision Netralaya, Sambalpur, where such a large number of cases had been operated”, health & family welfare department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Anu Garg said in the affidavit filed today.

“Due to the above lapses of the NGO, its payment has been stopped. Presently, Government feels it is expedient to initiate appropriate action against the NGO JMJ Grace Vision Netralaya, Sambalpur”, Garg further said.

Earlier the Court had directed the State government to submit a report on implementation of National Programme for Control of Blindness giving details on the number of NGOs involved in the process of implementation of the programme through the District Blindness Control Societies and funds allocated to them.

The State government had recognized 16 NGOs (Base Hospital) to conduct surgery camp for cataract operation.

“There is no fixed amount for any NGO. The NGO who conduct cataract operation get an amount of Rs 750 per case from the District Blindness Control Society. However, during 2010-11 a total sum of Rs 3, 56, 97,933 have been reimbursed by the NGOs for such purpose. To this effect, it is appropriate to submit here that the total amount has been spent and there is no surplus”, Garg said.

Taking note of the affidavit the two judge bench of Chief Justice V.Gopala.Gowda and Justice B.N.Mohapatra directed JMJ Grace Vision Netralaya, Sambalpur to file within a week an affidavit giving details on the expenditure incurred by it in conducting the cataract surgical camp at the Sub Divisional Hospital at Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district from September 16 to 27, 2010. The next hearing on the case was fixed for Monday.

Advocate and human rights activist Prabir Kumar Das had filed a letter petition in the High Court alleging that 16 persons had lost their eyesight due to negligence of doctors and indifference of authorities at the mass operation at the cataract surgical camp. Compensation was sought for the persons who had lost eye sight.

Taking note of it on April 6 the High Court had converted the letter petition into a PIL.

District & Sessions Judge (Kalahandi) Ashok Acharya in pursuance of a high court order had conducted an enquiry and confirmed in his report that 16 persons who had undergone operation at a cataract surgical operation at Dharamgarh government hospital lost their eye sight due to post operation complicacies and lack of immediate post operation care.