No action against doctor as over 15 people lose their eyesight in Charsadda

Neither police registered an FIR nor did the government take notice of the issue even after two months as more than 15 people lost their eyesight after receiving treatment at a free eye camp organised in Charsadda, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

It happened as the poor citizens tried to take advantage of Sehat Card issued by the government as Dr Naseer Ahmed Safi – who is associated with a private hospital – provided treatment to them.

The prayer leader at a local mosque and two women are also among the victims who registered their protest outside the district health officer’s office.

It is said that the hospital charged Rs16,000 from each of them through the Sehat Card for operation only to deprive them of one of their eyes.

According to the affected persons, they had filed an application with the Mandani Police Station to get a case registered against Dr Naseer, but the officials have not filed an FIR despite the passage of two months.

One of the patients said the police instead were advising them to enter into a deal with the doctor through compensation.

He said there was a slight problem with his eyesight but the doctor had removed his eye, adding that several others were currently under treatment at a hospital in Peshawar. 

Eyes of some other patients were also removed just like him after the improper procedure they went through, he said and added that they had informed the provincial health minister in writing about the entire episode but there was no response since then.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Idrees – the district’s top health official – said they had shared the details with the provincial secretary and an inquiry was in progress on his directions.