It is reported that 17 people who came for treatment at the Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital last April have faced complications and two people have gone completely blind.
Ophthalmologist Dr. Kanishka Abeyratne, the representative of the Government Doctors’ Association, who spoke further,
“Even though various information has been shared, this is being disclosed to the public in view of the fact that many people are afraid to reveal the true situation here. The public thinks that the medicine put in the eyes was wrong because of the doctors. We cannot take responsibility for this. The government should be primarily responsible for that. Inferior drugs are imported for the government’s profit. Many types of medicines are imported under urgent purchase, most of them are inferior medicines. That’s what pedrinicilone eye medicine is for.
Care should be taken not to import inferior medicines like this from now on. Although we are called doctors, in some places we are treated like mental patients by the government. Because doctors are not treated properly and facilities are not provided, a large number of doctors are leaving the country.
If it continues like this, the health sector will collapse.
The government has not given any compensation or relief to those affected by the eye clinics. If the compensation is given but the eyesight is not restored, how long will the compensation last? It is mandatory to provide something beyond compensation to those innocent people.”