Ferozepur, September 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A three-storey eye hospital built at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore to provide advanced ophthalmic care in Ferozepur is struggling with deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate basic amenities and a shortage of super-specialist doctors, forcing patients requiring specialised treatment to travel to other medical centres.
The facility, located on the premises of the Civil Hospital, was inaugurated in 2014 during the SAD-BJP government. More than a decade later, several parts of the building are reportedly in poor condition. Windows have been damaged, while doors, fans and other equipment have been stolen. Windows in patient wards are also in a dilapidated state, allowing dust and direct sunlight to enter.
The registration room on the ground floor is now being used as a store. Patients and attendants also lack a proper drinking water facility inside the building, while the washrooms are poorly maintained. In one washroom attached to a patient ward, the door is missing and a curtain has been installed as a temporary replacement, creating particular inconvenience for women and elderly patients.
The shortage of super-specialists has compounded the problems faced by patients.
Sheela Rani, a Ferozepur resident who recently visited the hospital for an eye examination, said doctors detected serious complications that they suspected could be associated with diabetes. She was advised to undergo further evaluation at Guru Gobind Singh Government Medical College, Faridkot.
“Now either I will have to go to Faridkot or I will have to approach a private hospital for further treatment,” she said.
Another resident, Purshottam, said his mother had undergone cataract surgery at the hospital. He alleged that the room where she was recovering had damaged windows, allowing dust to enter directly.
“After the operation, the room where my mother has been admitted has no proper windows. Dust from outside enters the room directly, which can pose a serious risk to a patient recovering from eye surgery,” he said.
Civil Hospital eye specialist Dr Dixit Singla said routine eye examinations and cataract surgeries were being carried out at the facility. However, he acknowledged that specialists required for super-speciality treatment were not available.
He also said thefts of fans and other equipment had occurred and that complaints had been lodged with the authorities several times.
Eye specialist Dr Asmita Bajaj said the hospital did not have specialists in corneal transplantation or retinal diseases. Patients requiring such treatment are referred to Government Medical College, Faridkot, or PGIMER, Chandigarh, she said.
Naveen Sharma, president of the Anti Crime Anti Drug Wing Welfare Society (India), said the frequent transfer of specialist doctors was another concern.
“It is a matter of concern that in recent times no specialist doctor has stayed here for a long period. Even doctors appointed here have managed to get themselves transferred on one pretext or another. The government must look into the reasons and appoint permanent specialists here,” he said.
The condition of the facility raises questions over the upkeep and utilisation of a government hospital specifically established to provide advanced eye-care services to residents of Ferozepur and surrounding areas.
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