Health Commission Chairman Criticizes Media for Reporting on 9 People Going Blind in Hospital

The Chairman of the Health and Treatment Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly harshly criticized the media for following up on the news of 9 people going blind after cataract surgery at a hospital in Tehran. Hossein Ali Shahriari said on Saturday, December 1, to ILNA news agency: "It is true that this incident happened and it was a very bad event, but it is not supposed that every day all news is published." He stated that the issue relates to more than a month ago and mentioned that similar incidents have occurred before, "but I do not know why foreign media have also covered it this time... This indicates that there are other events behind these currents." Iranian media have reported that 9 individuals who underwent cataract surgery at the Negah Eye Center on October 9 lost vision in the operated eye after experiencing symptoms such as pain, tearing, and nausea. Ali Nili, the director of Negah Hospital, confirmed the eye infection of 9 patients in one day and called it an "unusual event". He stated that more than 13,000 surgeries had been performed at this hospital since the beginning of the year, with only two cases of infection. The head of Negah Hospital mentioned that the possibility of the incident being intentional is one of the hypotheses and stated that surveillance cameras in the hallways recorded "unusual" occurrences, and "the images have been handed over to judicial authorities." Additionally, Hossein Kermanpour, the head of the Public Relations Center of the Ministry of Health, referred to the incident as being related to "a few months ago" and stated without providing details to ILNA that "judicial follow-up on this issue has been conducted." Meanwhile, the Tabnak website strongly criticized the statements of the Chairman of the Health and Treatment Commission, stating that he, the former Minister of Health, and another representative from the parliament are doctors at Negah Hospital, and "most of the doctors at this center are considered major shareholders." The head of the Medical System Organization of Iran also reacted, stating that the incident of 9 people going blind after cataract surgery at Negah Hospital occurred "two months ago" and noted that hospital infections occur worldwide. Mohammad Raiszadeh referred to the 25-year history of the cataract surgery center and claimed that the average hospital infection rate at this center is lower than the national average. He then described the incident as a "known process" and said that surgery is like driving: "If a bus overturns despite all precautions and people die, although a tragic incident has occurred, it is a known process." However, Mr. Raiszadeh apologized to the affected individuals and stated that if they "if" complain to the Medical System, this organization will "deal with the offenders based on the principle of neutrality and with seriousness and scientific standards."