NEW DELHI, 3 May 2005 — The Health Ministry yesterday ordered an investigation into the reported sale of cornea at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Firm action will be taken against those involved in this, said Chief Vigilance Officer Mayank Sharma.
In a sting operation on Sunday, the recently formed Dedicated Investigative Group (DIG) exposed the illegal sale of cornea at the country’s premier health institute here. DIG’s video clippings, broadcast by India TV, showed that cornea was on sale for a meager 2,000 rupees. DIG’s Jamshed Khan, who filmed the whole story on spy cam, told Arab News that it was easy to buy cornea illegally from the staff of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Eye Research Center at AIIMS. “On the other hand, those who are in urgent need of cornea have to wait for up to six years,” he added. Khan highlighted similar goings-on at Samarpan Eye Bank in Agra by purchasing an eyeball for 1,500 rupees from Dr. T.P. Singh.
A videotape of the sting operation showed Mahesh, an employee at AIIMS, saying work on procuring a cornea would progress quicker if money exchanged hands. Earlier, Mahesh was paid 500 rupees. After Khan pretended not to have enough money, Mahesh said: “Yeh to ghalat kaam kar diya (You have done it wrong).” However, after more money was given to Mahesh, he handed over the cornea to Khan. Mahesh carried the cornea in an unsterilized bottle in his pocket.
An angry mob attacked the AIIMS’ Dr. Rajendra Prasad Eye Research Center and “Samarpan” Eye Bank in Agra after the TV report was broadcast. Later police arrested Dr. Singh.
AIIMS has suspended Mahesh and Mukut Sharma. Both were caught on camera selling cornea to the DIG journalist. Dr. S. Venugopal, director AIIMS, has also ordered an investigation into the matter. The preliminary report of the probe would be submitted today, vigilance officer Mayank Sharma said.
A noted eye surgeon, who did not want to be identified, said the problem of sale of corneas arises due to the gap between demand and supply of corneas in the country. Only 20,000 corneas are available nationwide in a year as against a demand of 200,000.
With some 15 million people without sight, India has the highest population of the blind in the world. In fact, one out of every three blind people in the world lives in India. But for the acute shortage of corneas, almost 80 percent of this blindness can be cured.
This is the official position. However, sting reporter Khan said the person with whom he had dealings claimed he could easily provide as many corneas as required for between 2,000 rupees and 4,000 rupees.
