Md. Shah Alam Reza, Special Correspondent, Khulna Division

A private eye hospital in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia has been accused of malpractice, shortage of doctors and manpower, and irregularities in surgeries. Several victim families have claimed that due to negligence in treatment, the eyesight of an elderly woman has been severely damaged and the condition of a child's eyes has also deteriorated. However, the hospital authorities have denied these allegations.

According to the complaint, the 10-bed accredited Biswas Community Eye Hospital has been providing medical services without the required number of resident doctors for a long time. Locals allege that although there are multiple doctors on paper, only one doctor is regularly on duty. In addition, some victims have also alleged that the hospital director himself administered an anesthetic injection to the patient during surgery instead of a recognized anesthesiologist.

A complainant named Dalia Khatun said that the hospital director himself applied anesthesia during her cataract surgery. She claimed that her eyes are now almost useless due to severe pain in the eyes, bleeding immediately after the surgery and later the wrong power lens was inserted. She said that she will file a written complaint with the administration along with the necessary medical documents and lens receipts regarding the incident.

Litu, a resident of Kumarkhali, has made a similar complaint. She said that her sister-in-law had to be taken to Dhaka for treatment after her condition deteriorated after cataract surgery.

Meanwhile, questions have also been raised about the eye treatment of a 10-year-old child named Roshni on July 29. The family claims that after receiving treatment at the hospital, the child's eye condition deteriorated and she was later taken to the Amin Diagnostic Center in Kushtia. The family claims that a specialist doctor on duty there initially questioned the previous treatment.

However, hospital director Md. Suruj Biswas denied all the allegations. He said, "I am not a doctor. There is no question of administering anesthesia. Dr. Moazzem Hossain Milon performed cataract surgery at our hospital and Dr. Khaled Saifullah was responsible for anesthesia."

Regarding child Roshni, he said, the child had a conjunctiva in her eye and it was ruptured, causing blood to flow out. Later, the doctor saw her again and discussed the matter with the family.

Regarding the complaint of a shortage of doctors at the hospital, Suruj Biswas claimed that they have three doctors and six diploma nurses. One doctor is currently on leave.

In this regard, anesthesiologist Dr. Khaled Saifullah said that he was recently contacted about whether he would perform duties in the hospital's operation theater in light of the civil surgeon's instructions. He said, "Today is the first time I have been spoken to about this. If I get time outside of official duties, I can perform the duties. I was not involved in any surgery or anesthesia conducted at that hospital before."

When asked, Kushtia Civil Surgeon Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Kamal Hossain said, "We have not received any written complaint in this regard yet. If we receive a complaint, we will investigate and take legal action."