Patients scared away from RIO following eye infections: Minister

Guwahati, Oct 9 (UNI) The Regional Institute of Opthalmology (RIO) in the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) did not have a single patient yesterday following the eye infection cases reported recently.

As many as 37 cases of post-cataract operation infections were reported on September 16, of which 26 were of September 13, when a cataract correction operation camp was held in the RIO. Of the 26 cases, about 20 cases were from a single operating table.

The first batch of eight patients, sent to Chennai for corrective operations by the government, had returned. The doctors there had reportedly stated that the patients would lose vision in the infected eye.

State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, talking to mediapersons here today, conceded that the infections had scarred away patients from the RIO.

He said, ''there was not a single patient in the RIO yesterday'', adding that the germs of the infections were possibly ''Shoe borne''.

He informed that the expert committee investigating the cause of the infections would submit its report tomorrow and on the basis of it, the government would take necessary steps.

On the issue of compensation, he said, ''the government will pay compensation if the report holds if responsible for the infections.'' He maintained that the issue was being hyped by a section of doctors of the RIO to attract patients to their private chambers.

Mr Sharma said the RIO would be given a major fact-lift and the Centre had already given Rs 10 crore for it, along with the Rs 1 crore provided by the Chief Minister.

He observed that to renew faith in the RIO, he would ensure that his family members with any eye complaint were operated there.

''We will need a number of well publicised and high profile cases to attract patients again'', he added.

He also took a dig at Opposition leader and AGP Chief Brindaban Goswami for trying to politicise the issue.'' UNI SG JYN RL DB2052