Maharashtra: IGGMC Nagpur Eye Bank license renewed

Nagpur:The eye bank licence of the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC) has been renewed after four years of wait on the part of the college. The wait indeed resulted in a severe damage to the students in on account of hand training in corneal transplants, with patients loosing out on vision that could have come their way-with corneal transplants.

The license renewal saw two corneal transplants performed on the premises-immediately. The two transplants were done from cornea received from Madhav Netra Pedhi on two men within the age range of 50 and 60 years.

The eye bank and transplant license had expired in 2012, with the college unable to renew its licence .It was alleged that the state Public Health Department has been at fault for the delay.

Ophthalmology Department, IGGMC sources told the TOI that the renewal application along with a fee of Rs 5000 had been deposited by the college within the stipulated time with the Public Health Department . However, the Joint Director's office in the department kept the application pending for a long time . The college after this incessant delay was intimated that the demand draft was invalid, and therefore, had been sent back.

Interestingly, on not receiving the outdated bank draft, when the college indicated the same to the department, in a written communication, the Public Health Department reverted back saying that the DD was still with it. It also mentioned certain drawbacks in the eye bank in this letter.

However, the college authorities had things contrary to state. "We always had good staff and all the required infrastructure. It was a big loss to the post graduate students as they were deprived of any hands on training on performing a corneal transplant. The patients too missed many opportunities for getting vision back due to corneal transplant," stated a senior faculty.

The health department has been alleged to have messed up the issue to such an extent that the license renewal is not yet on the original papers. "We have the order on an attested true copy," said the professor.