No eye camp without permission: Pb govt

Punjab Health department today said it is mandatory for all NGOs, hospitals, or eye-surgeons to take prior permission of civil surgeons for holding an eye operation camp and that action will be taken against those failing to do so.
"It is mandatory for all the NGO-hospitals, private, eye-surgeons to sign an MoU with concerned civil surgeon and get permission for holding any eye screening/operation camp.
If any camp is held without the permission of concerned civil surgeon, the operating eye surgeon will be liable to action," a statement quoted Punjab, Principal Secretary, Health, Vini Mahajan as saying.
She said this while addressing a Civil Surgeons' Conference held here today.

She further said that Punjab Medical Council will be duly informed and action will be taken as per rules.
Mahajan said the guidelines for holding general and eye screening or operation camps have already been issued and that all the civil surgeons have held meeting with NGO hospitals and private eye surgeons and advised them to follow these guidelines in letter and spirit.

Several patients had suffered serious damage to their eyes in botched eye surgery camp held in Gurdaspur district in November last year by an NGO.
Health Secretary appreciated the civil surgeons for holding Glaucoma Screening Camps all over Punjab.

More than 22,000 persons were examined and 600 glaucoma cases were treated.
Recently, a team from Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare visited District Hospitals-Mohali, Gurdaspur, Batala, Tarntaran and government Medical College, Amritsar in Punjab and submitted a satisfactory report regarding availability of eye equipment and performance, the statement said.
It was further informed that more than 1,700 persons were challaned for violation of rules pertaining to Anti-Tobacco Act while raids were conducted on more than 1,400 hotels, eateries, and cigarette shops in a three-day campaign against tobacco.