Report by Michael Rodrigues
Team Mangalorean Udupi

Udupi: Ramesh Gowda, State President Kasturi Karnataka Janapara Vedike (KKJV) has demanded the District Administration to take immediate action  against '  Kota Charmakki Narayana Shetty Lions Hospital' for causing severe damage to the eyes sight of few people, and also causing the death of a person during the surgery due to negligence.

Addressing the press meet here at Hotel Amanthrana on Thursday August 16, 2012, Gowda alleged  that the Kota Charmakki Narayana Shetty Lions Hospital had held a special Eye Camp August 1-3, 2012, where eye surgery and other eye related problems were performed on patients, and the charges ranged from Rs. 5000 to Rs.  9000. But it seemed like the surgery was not done right- the people who underwent surgery paying Rs. 9,000/- had pain and puss in their eyes the very next day of the surgery.

When the matter was brought to the attention of the hospital they have advised the patients to either go to Hubli or  Manipal  for treatment, which manifests clearly the negligence factor of this hospital.  8 people who developed those symptoms after the surgery were admitted in KMC Manipal, of which 4 have already been discharged. The expenses on these patients have been borne by Kota Charmakki Naraya Shetty Hospital .  Besides these patients,  Narasimha Shetty, a patient who had undergone treatment in Charmakki Narayana Shetty Hospital died after he got admitted there with multiple complications.  The remaining admitted patients at KMC, Manipal namely Manjunatha Udupa Amparu, Sukra Bhatkal, Girija Saligrama, Koteshwara Narasappa Poojary, Kundapura Manju Poojary, Seetha B. Poojary are doubtful of getting their eye-sight back to normalcy. When asked about their present conditions, some were reluctant to reply.  Many more have got admitted in other hospitals and details are not available he said.

The District Administration and District Physicians need to investigate in to this matter and punish all those who were responsible for this malpractice, also the families of the deceased, and also those who are suffering due to this negligence need to be given suitable compensation. Besides the Hospital should apologise publicly, and the  District In- Charge Minister should immediately visit the Hospital and respond to the situation, Gowda insisted. 

Kasturi Karnataka Janapara Vedike will give one week's time to the District Administration as well as the Hospital to rectify the matter, if they didn't respond KKJV will hold massive protest regarding this matter, he said.

Vedike vice president Balakrishna K, Patients family members Rathnakar Kundapur, Jaya Poojary Navunda, Vedike members Dinesh, Yogish, Krishna Gowda and others were present in the press meet.