Victims demand compensation

Loss of eyesight

• “Post treatments done to the eye terribly painful”
• “Uncertain how long complications will last” 
• “It is now an additional burden to our life”  

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

Several patients who developed complications due to the use of ‘Prednisolone’, an eye drop used after cataract surgeries at three government hospitals, demand financial compensation for the damage caused to their eyes and possible threats to their lives.  

One of the victims, P. A. Nandasena, aged 67 is a resident of Bandarawela who recently underwent eye surgery at the Nuwara Eliya General Hospital. Speaking exclusively with the Daily Mirror he said “I was admitted to the hospital on April 04 and underwent cataract surgery on the following day (05) when the medicine in question was applied. Then, I was discharged on April 06.”  

“The complications started to present after about 14 days. It’s as if I have a spider web over my operated eye. I started to lose my vision gradually. Troubled by this, I went to the hospital to seek advice and was told to admit myself at the hospital again,” Nandasena recalled.  

“Subsequently, five patients including myself were transferred to the National Eye Hospital in Colombo, where several treatments were done to my eye. It was terribly painful,” he said.  
Another victim named M Rajarathnam, sharing his experience, said that it was really unfortunate that it happened to poor people like them. “It is now an additional burden to our life,” he lamented.  

“We need compensation for what happened to us. Our lives are now in peril. We have nothing to do with it. The fault is with the government. Therefore, we demand financial compensation,” he said.  

Bacteria that caused complication not found in pre-shipment samples: Health Ministry

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

‘Burkholderia Cepacia’ , the bacteria which was found in the eye drop that caused complications to several eye patients, was not detected in the pre-shipment samples sent by the Indian supplier, said Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena.  

Dr. Gunawardena told Daily Mirror that “If any issues were identified with the samples, we would have cancelled the order. This bacteria was not detected in the pre-shipment samples.”  
“Nevertheless, it is not practical to test every sample and thus the clearance was given for the order. Unfortunately, the bacteria has been found in several samples, which caused complications,” he said.  

Meanwhile, Dr. Gunawardena stated “The Indian Company held a discussion with officials of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) where the company representatives agreed to test every batch, at whichever laboratory we name, and obtain the reports.”  

The official also said that the batch was imported under a normal procurement and not under the Indian Credit Line.   

‘Burkholderia cepacia’ is an aerobic gram-negative bacillus found in various aquatic environments. Initial investigations have revealed that patients who have undergone cataract surgery last month, contracted Endophthalmitis, a complication related to a bacterial infection.  

Culture specimens and test swabs obtained from these patients have revealed the organism as to be ‘Burkholderia Cepacia.’

PIX BY NIMALSIRI EDIRISINGHE