Hyderabad: Telangana Health, Medical and Family Welfare Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha reviewed opportunities for collaboration with the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) to strengthen eye care services in government hospitals across the State.
During a meeting with LVPEI representatives, the Minister discussed measures to improve affordable, equitable and quality eye care services for people across Telangana.
Damodar Raja Narasimha said Telangana had 35 government medical colleges with Ophthalmology Departments. He said these institutions provided specialist eye care, optometry services and cataract surgeries to thousands of patients every year.
The Minister said Sarojini Eye Hospital, the State’s Centre of Excellence for Ophthalmology, offered advanced procedures. These included retinal surgeries, laser treatment, squint correction, corneal transplants, ocular oncology, oculoplasty and glaucoma management.
Eye care services to expand through new initiatives
The Minister said the Health Department had completed a gap assessment to upgrade district-level government teaching hospitals. Accordingly, the department would establish dedicated ophthalmology operation theatres and provide essential equipment in a phased manner.
He appreciated LVPEI for its contribution to public healthcare. Furthermore, he said stronger collaboration could significantly improve ophthalmology services in government hospitals.
Damodar Raja Narasimha said the neonatal eye screening programme in government hospitals in Bhadradri Kothagudem district had produced encouraging results. Therefore, the government would examine expanding the initiative to other districts in phases.
He also proposed exploring a partnership with LVPEI to establish Regional Corneal Retrieval Centres, or eye banks, across Telangana. He said the initiative would strengthen corneal donation and improve access to corneal transplantation.
The Minister said specialised training under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram would strengthen optometry services for students in government residential schools. Meanwhile, the Health Department will organise a workshop with government teaching hospitals in August to identify additional areas of collaboration and prepare a roadmap for strengthening ophthalmology services in Telangana.
Principal Secretary for Health, Medical and Family Welfare Christina Chongthu, senior department officials and representatives of LVPEI attended the meeting.