A 19-month-old child allegedly lost his eyesight permanently after being administered the wrong medicine at a government hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, raising fresh concerns over patient safety in public healthcare facilities.The incident has also acquired political significance as it occurred in the district overseen by the state’s Health Minister, while the family has sought action against those responsible.The child, a resident of Bhusa Kamalpur village in Sagar district, was taken by his father, Indraj Vishwakarma, to the Civil Hospital in Banda after developing a mild cold, cough and redness in the eyes.According to the family, the child was examined by paediatrician Dr Himanshu Verma, who prescribed eye drops, paracetamol and other medicines.The family alleged that during treatment, hospital staff mistakenly put a medicine meant for clearing mucus into the child’s eyes instead of the prescribed eye drops. Soon after, the child’s condition deteriorated. He was initially shifted to the Sagar District Hospital and later referred to AIIMS Bhopal as his condition turned critical.According to the family, doctors at AIIMS Bhopal later informed them that the severe reaction caused by the wrong medicine and alleged medical negligence had resulted in the child permanently losing his eyesight.Following the incident, the child’s father submitted a written complaint at the Banda police station against the duty doctor and hospital staff, seeking legal action.The Health Department has initiated an inquiry into the matter. The Chief Medical and Health Officer of Sagar has constituted a three-member committee to investigate the incident and sought its report within seven days. Alongside the departmental probe, police are conducting a separate investigation.The case comes close on the heels of another alleged instance of medical negligence in Sagar district. Days earlier, a patient identified as Devendra Pathak died at Bundelkhand Medical College after an alleged overdose of anaesthesia and failure to provide timely treatment. The incident had prompted Health Minister Rajendra Shukla to order an inquiry.