New Delhi, 19th March, 2015

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that 19 patients lost their vision caused by infection after cataract surgery at Jeevan Medical LLP Hospital in Panipat, Haryana on 11th March, 2015. Fourteen victims were admitted to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, while the remaining were undergoing treatment at Panipat.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of right to health of the victims. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Principal Secretary, Department of Health, Government of Haryana calling for a factual report within two weeks. He has also been asked to inform about any ex-gratia payments made to the victims and the action taken against the hospital for any medical negligence.
According to the media reports, the Health Minister of Haryana had constituted a Committee to investigate the matter. The Head of Department of Eye Wing of PGIMER stated that infection was caused by Pseudomonas which was not visible to the naked eye.
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