Child loses vision after treatment at MP Govt Hospital, inquiry launched

Bhopal: Allegations of Medical negligence have surfaced after a 19-month-old child allegedly lost his eyesight following treatment at a government hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, prompting the health department to order a high-level inquiry.

According to the news reports, the incident occurred at Banda Civil Hospital in Sagar, when the child, a resident of Bhusa Kamalpur village, was brought on May 29, 2026, with complaints of cold, cough, and redness in the eyes. The family alleged that the symptoms were initially minor when they sought treatment.

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The child’s father said that they first obtained an OPD slip and consulted a on-duty paediatrician who examined the child and prescribed medicines, including eye drops, paracetamol syrup, an injection, and other medication.

However, the family has alleged that a serious medical error occurred during treatment, claiming that a medicine meant for clearing phlegm was mistakenly administered into the child’s eyes. Following this, the child’s condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly.

The family further stated that they remained at the hospital for several hours in the hope of recovery, but the child’s condition worsened. He was then referred to the district hospital in Sagar, where doctors advised shifting him to a higher medical centre for specialised treatment. The child was subsequently taken to AIIMS Bhopal.

At AIIMS, doctors allegedly informed the family that the child had suffered permanent loss of vision, reportedly due to incorrect medication or medical negligence.

"My son's life has been destroyed," the father has alleged in his complaint filed in the Banda police station. "He was taken to hospital for cough, cold and redness in the eyes. Now he will never be able to see," reports NDTV.

The father has lodged a complaint at the Banda police station, seeking strict action against the doctor and hospital staff involved. The family has also demanded an impartial investigation into the incident.

Following public outrage, the Sagar Chief Medical and Health Officer constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the allegations. Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Ganga Prasad Arya said the panel has been asked to submit its report within a week.

He added that the inquiry will examine the prescribed treatment, actual medication administered, and whether any negligence occurred. “Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty,” he said.

Police have also initiated a parallel investigation into the incident.

The case has intensified scrutiny of healthcare services in the region. It comes just days after another alleged case of medical negligence was reported from Sagar, where a patient died during treatment at Bundelkhand Medical College.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that Medical negligence has been alleged in the death of a patient at Bundelkhand Medical College (BMC) in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, after a preliminary inquiry reportedly found that a high-risk anaesthesia injection was allegedly administered before surgery, leading to a rapid deterioration in his condition.

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