A special committee comprising ten members has been appointed to the Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital to address concerns surrounding fifteen patients who allegedly developed complications after using an Indian medicine following eye surgery at the hospital. R. M. S. K. Ratnayake, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, made this announcement during a media briefing today (01).
The directive to establish the special committee came from the Ministry of Health, and it will be operating under the guidance of Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital Director, Mahendra Seneviratne. The committee’s primary objective is to conduct individualized discussions with all the patients who have reported complications after using the Indian medicine. These discussions aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues faced by each patient, and based on the findings, appropriate referrals for further medical investigations will be made.
According to the Additional Secretary, fifteen individuals who underwent eye treatments at the Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital, and an additional twenty-five patients treated at the Colombo National Hospital, experienced complications linked to the use of the imported Indian medicine. Following media exposure and concern from the Health Minister, a special committee comprising ten specialist doctors has been formed to address the situation.
The committee will conduct thorough investigations by visiting the hospitals and meeting with the patients affected by the complications. Subsequently, the patients will be referred to specialized doctors for comprehensive examinations to identify the extent of complications in their eyes. Based on the committee’s findings, necessary actions will be taken to ensure the affected patients receive appropriate further treatment.
Upon completion of the investigation, the committee will submit a comprehensive report to the Ministry of Health. Based on the report’s recommendations, the Ministry will initiate further measures to provide adequate medical attention and support for the visually impaired patients. The committee’s work is aimed at addressing the issues arising from the use of the Indian medicine and finding the most suitable course of action to ensure the well-being of the affected individuals.
