Shortage of doctors result in glaucoma patients to wait for months

The shortage of surgeons and resources for treatment of glaucoma is resulting in a long wait for patients to get a date for getting their surgery done for glaucoma. Many aggrieved patients and their families who come for treatment of glaucoma at Delhi government’s lone eye care hospital, Guru Nanak eye care hospital, say that they need to wait for months for a getting a date for surgery from the hospital authorities.

Elaborating on the troubles faced, Umesh who has been making the rounds of the hospital for treatment of his sister since March said:, “I have been running from pillar to post in the hospital for my sister’s treatment since March. At first there is a huge problem of registration. Then when you get registered there is a non-availability of doctors. At the end, after a series of tests and examinations, you get a due date for surgery which can be deferred based on the availability of doctors.” Most of the senior doctors including the Medical Director of the hospital at present are on summer vacations hence they could not be reached for a comment on the challenges been faced by patients. A senior administrator, however, while mentioning the challenges said: “The reason that there is a long waiting time for surgery is because there is a massive shortage of surgeons. We presently have only two surgeons for glaucoma at our premises.”

One of the problems also raised by patients which causes delay in surgery is lack of equipment. Sarita who has been coming from as far as Ballabgarh and recently got operated said: “The hospital did not have the pre-requisite lens for me, thus, I had to buy it from the private services which caused a delay.” A senior doctor working in the glaucoma department who has been associated with the hospital from the early 80’s highlighted the shortage of resources and the increased workload faced by doctors in treating patients.