Six patients claim Rs.600 million from Keheliya and others for permanent loss of sight

• On May 10, 2023 it was revealed to the victims and observed that they were gradually losing sight in the eyes operated and treated with the said Prednisolone Acetate Eye Drops  

by Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Six patients who were subjected to permanent loss of sight due to the use of substandard ‘Prednisolone Acetatean’, eye drop used after cataract surgeries at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital, have sent Letters of Demand claiming compensation of Rs.100 million each from Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and eight others for the damage caused to their eyes and possible threats to their life.    

The victims, M.A. Kalyani of Nuwara Eliya, Tilak Jayaratne of Harasabadda, P.A. Nandasena of Bandarawela, A.G. Dingirimahattaya of Dunukedeniya, W.D. Somasiri of Welimada and Priyanthi Wijesuriya of Welimada have sent these Letters of Demand through Invictus Law Firm demanding compensation from Keheliya Rambukwella, Janaka Chandraguptha, National Medicine Regulatory Authority, Prof. S.D. Jayaratne, Dr. Vijith Gunasekera, Dr. Asela Gunawardene, Dr. Rohan Edirisinghe, Dr. Mahendra Seneviratne and Chamee Chemist (Pvt) Ltd of Yakkala. It has warned that legal action will be instituted if the money is not paid.   Invictus Law Firm stated that their clients had been admitted to the Nuwara Eliya General Hospital and underwent a Cataract surgeries on or around April 05, 2023 performed by medical staff of the Nuwara Eliya General Hospital.    The Law Firm stated that their clients were thereafter discharged after the completion of the surgeries and advised by the medical staff attached to the Nuwara Eliya Hospital to use the Prednisolone Acetate Eye Drops manufactured by Indiana Opthalmics LLP India which was also given by the hospital as a part of the recovery and after care.   
It further stated that after several applications of the said eye drops their clients developed tearing, discomfort, pain and headaches on or about April 19, 2023.    It further stated that upon further medical investigation and its admission to the National Eye Hospital on May 10, 2023 it was revealed to the victims and observed that they were gradually losing sight in the eyes operated and treated with the said Prednisolone Acetate Eye Drops.   
It further stated that said Eye drops were substandard due to the non-conformity with the sterility tests and that patients who used the drug developed Endophthahnitis.    The Law firm further said as at the date of these demands, their clients are completely blind in the eyes operated on and treated with the said Prednisolone Acetate Eye Drop.   
Due to blindness our clients face many hardships and difficulties in their day-to-day life and activities and due to their blindness and disability our clients are unable to engage in any employment nor engage in their day to day activities and engage in his basic daily routine without any assistance, the Law Firm further added.   
It has further warned that they will be reporting to all law enforcement authorities including the CID regarding these incidents.