Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Photo: Archive
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Monday said former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan was administered his third dose of an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection.
“Prior to the procedure, he was examined by ophthalmologists and was found to be vitally stable,” the PIMS administration said in a statement.
Imran was first taken to the hospital in late January for a minor eye procedure. Five days later, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said PIMS doctors had conducted another examination of his eyes and, after obtaining his written consent, carried out a minor medical procedure that lasted about 20 minutes.
In early March, another medical check-up was carried out at Adiala Jail, after which PIMS claimed that Imran had shown significant improvement in his vision after his second dose of an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection.
According to the statement issued by PIMS, Imran was injected with the third dose “under the guidance of surgeons’ microscopy”, after obtaining his informed consent.
The hospital administration stated that the procedure was carried out under standard monitoring and with adoption of all standard precautionary measures and protocols in the operation theatre.
The procedure was performed as a daycare surgery, the administration said. He added that “during his stay he remained vitally stable before, during and after the procedure and was discharged along with instructions for his follow-up, advice and documents.”
Reacting to the statement issued by the PIMS, the PTI expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the founder’s medical treatment.
In a statement on
PTI also questioned why Imran’s personal doctors were being denied access and why his family had not been allowed to meet him. The party also called for clarity on the situation, expressing concern over what it described as a lack of transparency.
Imran has been detained since August 2023, serving time in Adiala jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending lawsuits under the Anti-Terrorism Law in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.
The PTI has intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to the Supreme Court claimed that vision in his right eye had decreased to 15 per cent. However, government officials maintain that he is receiving adequate medical care.
Last month, a medical board that examined Imran reported an improvement in his eyesight and did not recommend transferring him to a hospital. According to his medical report, his vision in his right eye has improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye maintains 6/6 vision with the use of glasses. The assessment was carried out by Dr Nadeem Qureshi and Dr Arif Khan, after a detailed examination at Adiala Jail.
According to the medical report, the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clean. Mild intragel hemorrhage was noted at the edge of the right eye and moderate retinal hemorrhage was noted in all four quadrants. The swelling of the macula in the right eye was decreasing and the macular thickness was reduced from 550 to 350 microns.
The board described the ongoing medication and treatment and recommended OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completion of anti-VEGF therapy, the report added, although no recommendation was made for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.
