Indore : Days after more than 60 patients were hospitalized following botched cataract surgeries at a free eye camp in Barwani district, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of the district is in deep waters as the health department has begun investigation into quality and standard of local purchase of medicines made by the officer.
Madhya Pradesh Public Health Services Corporation (MPPHSC) chief general manager Vinay Kumar Dubey said: “We have banned sale and purchase of 19 drugs following adverse report. Barwani CMHO Dr Rajni Dawar has purchased medicines. We are going to investigate whether the medicines had undergone quality and standard check before taking for use. If any apathy is found, stern action will be taken against officer concerned.”
Dawar is under scanner ever since botched surgery case during government sponsored eye camp had come fore. State government has constituted a committee to probe the botched surgery cases.
Indore division joint director (health), Dr Sharad Pandit said, “The committee will investigate if there were any lapses on the part of health department officials, if any, the responsible officials will have to face music.”
The committee will see whether the medicines used during the camp had undergone quality and standard check. Dawar’s posting as CMHO had been in controversy since a complaint of embezzlement of Rs 8.11 lakh was lodged against her while she was posted at Jhabua in 2013. An investigation into the complaint had discovered that the funds were withdrawn by Dawar with the help from some other official illegally.
Dawar was booked by the police for fraud and under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act and produced challan in the court. Dawar’s anticipatory bail was also rejected, however, she managed to avail bail later. Despite such serious case, the health department had transferred her to Barwani in May.
