Thirteen individuals were admitted to a hospital in Raipur after contracting eye infections following cataract surgeries at a government hospital in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, health officials reported on Monday.
Following the incident, the state health department initiated an investigation, leading to the suspension of three medical personnel, including the doctor who performed the surgeries, as announced on Sunday.
The patients, who underwent cataract surgeries at Dantewada District Hospital between October 18 and 22, were transferred to Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur over the past five days.
According to the hospital’s public relations officer, Shubhra Thakur, all patients are currently in stable condition.
Dantewada Collector Mayank Chaturvedi explained, “After one or two cases surfaced, we traced and examined patients who had undergone surgeries at the
hospital in the past 15-20 days. Out of 80 patients examined, 13 were found with infections in the operated eye.”
Despite being alerted to an initial infection case on October 20 involving a patient operated on October 18, the responsible doctor continued to perform surgeries until October 22, without notifying senior authorities, Chaturvedi added.
The district hospital, with four operating theatres, aims to conduct around 20 cataract procedures weekly.
Patients operated on from October 10 to October 22 have been examined, and the health department intends to review those operated on before October 10 as part of an extended investigation.
Preliminary findings by the investigative team pointed to lapses in standard protocol for cataract surgery and insufficient sanitisation of the operation theatre.
According to Health and Family Welfare Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, preliminary negligence appears linked to eye surgeon Dr Geeta Netam, eye assistant officer Dipti Toppo, and staff nurse Mamta Vaide, all of whom were suspended on Sunday.
The superintendent of the Dantewada District Hospital has also been issued a show-cause notice.
Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel criticised the BJP-led government, stating on social media platform X that “botched eye surgeries” had resurfaced under their rule, alleging that such incidents were common under previous BJP administrations and absent during Congress governance (2018-2023).
The Congress party has since appointed a six-member team, headed by Bastar MLA Lakheshwar Baghel, to investigate further.
During former BJP Chief Minister Raman Singh’s tenure, similar cases of post-surgery infections had previously emerged.
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