44 eye surgeries performed by an unqualified doctor raise alarming concerns in Hisar
 

A shocking revelation in Hisar, Haryana said that 44 eye surgeries were performed by a doctor, with him not having any qualification to do so. Dr. Vijay is working as an eye surgeon in District Civil Hospital of Hisar and had not taken his course or acquired the degree to be seen. Arrears of strict oversight from the health department let him perform surgeries on numerous patients, which after the inquiry were stayed since he hadn't cleared his exams.

This incident has raised strong reservations over the standards of medical care and professionalism in Haryana public hospitals. The Hisar eye department conducted more than a thousand eye surgeries every year; however, now, only 71 eye surgeries have been reported in the last 11 months with no surgical operation in the last four months alone. These facts reflect the absence of qualified professionals and the severe crisis in health care services in the region.

The Haryana health department appointed Dr. Vijay as an eye surgeon, although he did not have any qualification in ophthalmology. While he had been conducting eye surgeries under the supervision of Dr. Jyoti, who is a qualified ophthalmologist, it was shocking enough to bring the news that Dr. Vijay had not appeared for his medical exams that forced the National Program for the Control of Blindness (NPCB) to suspend his privileges in surgery. This has thus left the eye department in a tight spot. As there are no available qualified surgeons in the hospital.

The hospital has now deputed a specialist from Agroha Medical College to handle outpatient services. Meanwhile, patients requiring critical eye surgeries, including cataract operations and treatment of retinopathy, have been turned back to the private hospitals or some have to travel to other regions as part of the increasing burden on the pocket of the community.

There are questions raised on the effective healthcare management in the Haryana state when there was no accountability during the appointment of unqualified doctors. According to health officials, Dr Vijay will be allowed to resume surgery after his exams. However, the continued absence of qualified professionals working in Hisar's eye department has continued to leave many patients up in limbo, thus plunging deeper in to the crisis.

This case clearly calls for stringent medical control and regulation, especially in the public healthcare institutions, where lives of thousands are prone to be lost. More importantly, it underlines the significance of ascertaining the credentials of a person before making him or her an operating surgeon.

As the health crisis gets more severe and pervasive in Hisar, public demand accountability and reforms that will prevent such incidents in future.

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