Nellore, October 28: The Drug Control Administration officials today collected samples of the medicines used by the doctors at the Global Eye Foundation of Bollineni Hospitals here for the botched cataract surgeries that rendered at least 15 persons either partially or totally blind besides endangering the lives of some of them. After taking the samples of seven medicines from the hospital, the team led by District Drugs Controller M Panduranga Rao left for Hyderabad for investigation of possible growth of bacteria in them.
Of the 30 patients who underwent surgery, 15 developed infection.
Thirteen of them were sent to Chennai and two to Vijayawada for treatment. Doctors at the Sankara Nethralaya at Chennai removed the infected eyes of four patients. The condition of the remaining patients at the hospital and those shifted to Vijayawada is still critical. Another patient, who has been moved from Chennai to the government hospital here, is also in a serious condition.
According to Panduranga Rao analysing the samples will take time. “It will take at least 10 days for the laboratory to prepare a report,” he told newsmen. The drug control administration is planning to issue notices to the company that manufactured the IV fluids used for the surgeries.
Earlier in the day, a four-member team of doctors from the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital visited the government hospital here and examined the patient being treated there. The team, headed by Dr Sudhakar Reddy, later visited the Global Eye Foundation facility and examined the operation theatre where the procedures were done on the patients. They also spoke to the doctors who did the surgeries, including Dr Y Sai Murali, director of the foundation, and inquired about the medicines used and precautions taken against infection. Superintendent of police B Malla Reddy said no action could be taken against the doctors immediately since the inquiry is still on.
Failed eye ops: Sample of drugs collected
Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, the AP State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) has directed the SP of Nellore, the district collector and the district medical and health officer to submit a report on the incident.
—Agencies