Navi Mumbai civic body must act strictly against eye doctor

Dr Chandan Pandit. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Six senior citizens have partially or fully lost their vision following cataract surgeries allegedly performed by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) panel doctor Chandan Pandit, a report in this paper revealed. Internal documents accessed by mid-day show, shockingly, that Dr Pandit had previously been suspended in 2016 by then-commissioner of NMMC Tukaram Mundhe, but was reinstated in 2017 under Municipal Commissioner Dr N Ramaswamy without a full inquiry being conducted. What's more, despite an FIR being lodged by the victims of the botched surgeries, no arrests have been made in the case.

The son of one of the victims even works at the police commissioner's office, yet has been unable to get quick justice. One wonders just what kind of power Pandit wields. All victims said they trusted Pandit only because he was aligned with NMMC. What kind of due diligence was conducted by NMMC before inducting Pandit to their panel? Was it not public knowledge that he was suspended for negligence in 2016? Why was he still allowed to be associated with a government body in any capacity?

NMMC's medical officer (health) expressed shock when approached by the newspaper on the FIR, claiming that the civic body had taken "serious note of the complaints and an investigation and enquiry have been proposed". Why proposed? Why has Pandit not been suspended pending the outcome of the enquiry? He roams with impunity despite destroying the lives of six elderly citizens. There could be more victims who have not yet come forward. The NMMC is as much to blame for these citizens losing their sight as is the inept doctor who conducted the surgeries.

A lesson from this is to not trust government bodies and, if they can be afforded, approach private, verified entities for sensitive medical treatments. It could be all the difference between peace and a never-ending nightmare.