16 years on, Motihari eye hospital still non-operational

Motihari: Opposition leaders and social workers in East Champaran have sent a memorandum to CM Nitish Kumar, urging him to make functional the eye hospital at Motihari Sadar Hospital. Built 16 years ago at a cost of Rs 13 lakh, the hospital has not performed a single cataract surgery and has allegedly been converted into a warehouse for the sadar hospital.Dr Ravi Bhushan Srivastav, civil surgeon, told this newspaper that due to a lack of surgical equipment, infrastructure and eye specialist doctors, the hospital has remained non-operational. “Two ophthalmologists posted in sadar hospital only treat eye patients in the OPD and then refer them for surgery,” he said. The district health committee (Rogi Kalyan Samiti) has empanelled four private clinics for free cataract surgeries, but these have shown little interest, according to social workers.Hospital sources said the district health committee, headed by the DM, has repeatedly requested the state health department for posting specialist doctors, paramedical staff, a modern operation theatre, and necessary equipment, but to no avail.Opposition leaders pointed out that the district has a population exceeding 60 lakh and over 5,000 cataract patients are forced to seek treatment outside towns. Former CPI-M MLA Ramashray Singh said many poor patients travel to hospitals in Lahan, Biratnagar and Birgunj in Nepal. Shashi Bhushan Rai, district president of Congress, condemned the indifference and demanded the hospital be made functional. RJD senior leader Arun Yadav urged the health minister to take immediate steps while social worker Amar demanded a top-level inspection.