Now Government to set up an ultra-modern Eye Hospital in Delhi

New Delhi: Dr. A.K. Walia, Health Minister today said that with a view to effectively prevent and manage incidence of blindness in the city, the Delhi Government proposes to set up an ultra-modern Eye Hospital in addition to its two existing eye hospitals namely Guru Nanak Eye Centre and Attar Sen Jain Eye & General Hospital. He said that the magnitude of the challenge of blindness can be gauged from the fact that in Delhi there are about 1.85 lakh blind persons of which cataract account for 1,14,250. Government, private and non-government hospitals in Delhi presently are able to operate 90,000 eye patients. Of these, nearly 50% patients come from outside Delhi. It is a big challenge for health planners. Therefore, we feel that there is need for coming up with another Eye Hospital so that the growing demand for treatment of eye diseases is effectively met. Dr. Walia was today inaugurating 13th Motiabind Mukti Abhiyana (MMA) at Guru Nanak Eye Hospital. Under the programme, 39 designated hospitals and 500 referral centres in Government, private and NGO sector will screen and register the cataract patient needing surgery today and tomorrow. These patients would be provided all expense paid surgery at designated referral hospitals. The Minister informed that since inception of MMA, 4.03 lakh patients have been screened and about 43,747 cases successfully operated. He said that it is felt that there is strong need to rope in more cataract patients in the ambit of surgical operation. Delhi Government has, therefore, also decided to encourage and support non-governmental organizations also who are already doing commendable work. The Health Minister emphasized that Delhi Government is working for a cataract-free-state, as this eye disease is curable. He said that it is all the more important since 62% of blindness is caused by cataract. He said that rural areas have been specifically covered by the hospitals and referral centers as Delhi’s rural population harbours nearly 1/3 of blinds. ---