Punjab Health department on Friday made it mandatory for all NGOs, hospitals, or eye-surgeons to take prior permission of the Civil Surgeons for holding an eye operation camp. The department has also made it clear that action would be initiated against those failing to do so. “It is mandatory for all the NGO-hospitals, private, eye-surgeons to sign an MoU with concerned civil surgeon and get permission for holding any eye screening or operation camp,” said State Principal Secretary (Health) Vini Mahajan. Mahajan, while addressing a Civil Surgeons' Conference, added that in case any camp is held without the permission of concerned civil surgeon, “the operating eye surgeon will be liable to action”. She said that Punjab Medical Council will be duly informed and action will be taken as per rules. Mahajan said that the guidelines for holding general and eye screening or operation camps have already been issued and that all the civil surgeons have held meeting with NGO hospitals and private eye surgeons and advised them to follow these guidelines in letter and spirit. Several patients had suffered serious damage to their eyes in botched eye surgery camp held in Gurdaspur district in November last year by an NGO.