Ferozepur govt hospital sans regular eye specialist, patients at receiving end

Established for Rs 5.5 crores in 2014 during the SAD-BJP regime, the state-of-the-art eye hospital has turned into a ‘white elephant’ in the absence of any ‘super specialist’ doctors, juxtaposed with poor upkeep. When the project was launched, four super specialty doctors, each for glaucoma, retina, squint, and cornea-related problems, were supposed to join this hospital; however, no such specialist has ever been appointed so far.

Adding to the woes of the patients, the only eye specialist who had been working here has also been transferred, which has left the hospital without any doctor.

The triple-storeyed building of this eye hospital, which was constructed on the civil hospital premises, consists of five rooms for OPD, two operation theatres, two dark rooms, one eye ward, and four additional rooms. However, most of these rooms remain locked throughout the day. The condition of the building has been deteriorating by the day. The costly equipment, including ophthalmologic chairs, slit lamps, tonometers, and other gadgets, has been collecting dust.

Owing to the transfer of the regular eye specialist, the patients who come from far-flung areas suffer. Tarlok Singh, who had come here from Rakhri village, for an eye check-up of his daughter, Ramnik Kaur (14) said when he arrived at the hospital, he came to know the specialist doctor would be available for two days per week. He said, “We will have to come back on Monday as the specialist was unavailable.”

Sukhchain Singh, a resident of Sabuana village, had also come to the hospital with his daughter, Sandeep Kaur. He said, “My daughter had been facing some issues in her eyesight. We are going back after a general eye check-up. It is sad to see the state government boasts about healthcare facilities; however, in reality, doctors are not available at these facilities.”

The SMO, Dr Nikhil Gupta, said following the transfer of Dr Dixit Singla, who had been working here as an eye specialist, Dr Ranjit Singh Karir from Zira Civil Hospital has been called here on deputation. Dr Gupta said he would come to the district eye hospital twice a week, i.e., Monday and Thursday. He added, “The operations related to cataracts are being done in the hospital; however, the critical patients are being referred to Government Medical College

at Faridkot.”

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Rajwinder Kaur, said she has apprised the higher authorities regarding the shortage of doctors. “We are trying to manage the situation by marshalling the existing manpower resources.”

The president of Anti-Crime Anti-Drug (India), Naveen Sharma, said, “It is a matter of concern that during the recent times no specialist doctor has stayed here for a longer period of time. Even those doctors who had been appointed here, got themselves transferred on the pretext of one reason or another. The government must look into these aspects and appoint permanent doctors here.”