By Maheesha Mudugamuwa

A group of medical specialists attached to the Mirigama Base Hospital have launched an investigation into the alleged incident reported from Mirigama where a 16-year-old epilepsy patient had lost his vision after taking the medicines distributed by the hospital during the Covid-19 lockdown period. Lenin Niroshan, a resident of Kaleliya in Gampaha, had received the medicine from the Mirigama Base Hospital on 6 April by post due to the coronavirus-related curfew that prevailed in the country. However, as alleged by his father, after taking the medicine, Niroshan had shown allergic symptoms and been admitted to the Wathupitiwala Base Hospital, after which he had then been transferred to the National Eye Hospital. “He recovered after he was admitted, but he lost his vision,” Niroshan’s father alleged. As they highlighted, the medicine the hospital has been giving to Niroshan and the medicine they received by post have been different. They stressed that they continued with the medicine thinking that the difference was due to the brand name. Mirigama Base Hospital Director Dr. Jayantha Abayaratne said the hospital has sent medicine by post during the Covid-19 lockdown. He said the child had also received the medicine from the hospital and a complaint had been recorded with the hospital that the said patient has lost his vision after taking the medicine posted by the hospital. “We have already launched an investigation. In the mother’s complaint, she has mentioned that the patient has also taken some medicines given by a person who himself identified as a doctor. Considering all the facts, the investigation would be continued,” Dr. Abayaratne added.