The blind and visually impaired people can recover eyesight by transplanting functional eye. This is a marvel of modern medical science. But the eye bank has to be created where donated eyes can be scientifically preserved. A living person does not donate eye but he does make a will that his eye should be used for transplant for needy person. Unless there is a willing declaration by a donor, his eye cannot be removed after his death.
As the science and technology of offering an eye and transplanting it in a needy person developed, there appeared a movement all over the world for donation of eye after death. In western countries, the idea gained momentum and now there is a large number of people who make will during their lifetime that their donated eyes are transplanted to a needy person, a blind man or one visually impaired. The Government took upon itself to give publicity to this humanitarian act and recommended that people could during their life time make a will wherein they offer their eye for transplant after their death. As the idea moved forward, it was found that like blood bank, there could also be the eye bank in major hospitals where donated eyes are preserved under climatic and scientific conditions.
Some time back the State Health Department floated the idea that eye bank should be created in the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu. The proposal was approved in principle but action on the ground has been lacking. Actually it is the General Administration Department which has to issue necessary orders for the creation of manpower for Ophthalmology Department and constitution of State Level Authorization Committee (SLAC) required for the registration of the eye bank though the civil work has almost been completed. So for no such order has been issued. The matter of opening the eye bank by starting the preliminaries remains in cold store. Our information is that while the structure is raised for which two installments of funds were released, one installment of Rs. 58.05 lakh last year and second of Rs. 130,95 lakh for the current financial year, mechanical works like electrification and installation of ACs is in progress. Procurement of communication equipments and library books for the eye bank is still under process for which the required funds were released in the month of June this year. It is regrettable that the Administrative Department is not taking necessary steps by way of preliminary requirements for establishing the eye bank. Lethargy and slow action of the Administrative Department is to be gauged from the fact that an amount of ten lakh rupees has been paid to the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation in July last for procurement of important machinery and equipments but the same has not been delivered so far. Even the State Level Authorization Committee (SLAC) required for the registration of the eye bank has not been constituted till, as the College authorities are still waiting order in this connection from Administrative Department.
In the absence of eye bank, blind and visually impaired people of the State are left with no choice but to travel to other States, Punjab or Delhi provided they can afford and seek transplant if possible. But poor people cannot afford it and they have to remain reconciled to their misfortune for the entire life. Our information is that 4000-5000 patients from J&K were visiting neighbouring States every year for corneal transplants at huge expenses.
One fails to understand the irresponsible behavior of the authorities concerned in a matter of public interest like eye bank. There is shortage of fund; the civil work is complete, mechanical work can be completed in a short period of time but what is needed is the official permission and the procurement of machinery besides providing manpower for the Ophthalmologic Department to run the eye bank. We earnestly exhort the Health Minister to take serious note of delaying tactics. It is a loss to thousands of expectant persons who would like to see the light of the day that nature has denied to them. We want to touch the sense of humanism among the functionaries to help the deprived people enjoy the pleasure of life.
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