Latest news with #NationalProgrammeforControlofBlindnessandVisualImpairment
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
UP Govt's nod to eye retrieval centre at GIMS, Greater Noida
GREATER NOIDA: Greater Noida, India - December 16, 2019: Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) , in Greater Noida, India, on Monday, December 16, 2019. (Photo by Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times) (HT Archives) The Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Greater Noida, has received the Uttar Pradesh government's approval to establish an Eye (Cornea) Retrieval Centre, a facility expected to significantly enhance eye donation and corneal care in Gautam Budh Nagar and neighbouring districts, officials said on Monday. The development will enable local collection of donated corneas and reduce the need for patients from Gautam Budh Nagar, Bulandshahr, and Ghaziabad to travel to far-off centres in Delhi or Meerut. An operational timeline has not yet been announced. Calling the approval a major step towards strengthening specialised healthcare, GIMS director Dr (Brig.) Rakesh Gupta said, 'For too long, patients from Gautam Budh Nagar and neighbouring districts had to travel to Delhi or Meerut for cornea retrieval and related procedures. Now, we will be able to respond swiftly to donations, coordinate with reputed eye banks, and ensure that corneas reach those in need without delay, once the facility becomes operational.' He added that public awareness campaigns to encourage voluntary eye donations are also planned. Located at the junction of the Yamuna Expressway and Eastern Peripheral Expressway, GIMS is a 630-bed tertiary care hospital handling a large volume of road accident victims and critical emergencies. The ophthalmology department receives over 100 outpatients daily, underscoring the need for advanced eye care facilities, officials said. With the upcoming centre, donated corneas will be collected promptly and dispatched to designated Cornea Transplant Centres or Eye Banks under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI). GIMS is already linked with reputed eye banks, including AIIMS Eye Bank, New Delhi, and Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital Eye Bank, ensuring efficient allocation of corneas. Professor and head of ophthalmology at GIMS, Dr Krishna Kuldeep, said the centre would allow corneal transplant patients to receive treatment within the district, increasing accessibility and reducing wait times. Associate professor and in charge of the Cornea Retrieval Centre, Dr Shailly Raj, said efforts are also on to initiate corneal transplant surgeries at GIMS in the near future. To be sure, corneas can be donated by individuals aged 5 to 80 years, though viability decreases with age. Corneas from donors with infections such as sepsis, hepatitis, HIV, COVID-19, cancer, or other viral illnesses cannot be used. Retrieval must occur within six hours of death, making timely communication with GIMS critical, Dr Raj added. Officials said the centre will not only bring relief and convenience to patients and families but also promote the spirit of voluntary eye donation. The institute has appealed to families to support the cause, which can restore sight and change lives.
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Dept inquiry to be initiated against NMMC hospital doctor booked for botched cataract operation at father's private hospital
Navi Mumbai: Following an FIR registered at Vashi police station on Monday against the father-son duo ophthalmologists Dr D V Pandit and Dr Chandan Pandit, respectively, for an alleged botched cataract operation on 67-year-old Rajendra Gupta and four other patients at the father's private eye hospital in Sector 10, Vashi, causing them loss of vision, the NMMC administration has sought a report for conducting a departmental inquiry against Dr Chandan Pandit. Dr Chandan Pandit is a permanent employee at NMMC hospital in Airoli. Dr Prashant Jawade, medical superintendent at NMMC hospital, Vashi, said, "Since ophthalmologist Dr Chandan Pandit is a permanent employee at NMMC hospital at Airoli and he gets a non-practice allowance, as per the NMMC administration policy, he is not permitted to practise at any private hospital. Hence, the FIR document has been obtained and submitted to NMMC administration, which will submit a report followed by a departmental inquiry and then further course of action. " An RTI application reply revealed that in Nov 2016, when Dr Chandan Pandit was working as an ophthalmologist at NMMC hospital, Vashi, he was suspended as a disciplinary action after repeatedly receiving complaints from patients and hospital staff alleging indiscipline by him. After a departmental inquiry, though, he was reinstated in Dec 2017. As Thane civil surgeon's report concluded medical negligence by the two ophthalmologists after a complaint was lodged by Gupta a resident of Koparkhairane, an FIR was registered against them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Update: The Strategy Uses By Successful Intraday Trader TradeWise Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The civil surgeon's report mentioned that Gupta's cataract operation on the left eye was done on March 27 despite his random blood sugar (RBS) being 229mg, which was high. Even his physical fitness test was not done as per the medical treatment papers. Even before and after the surgery, the patient's diabetes control advice was not taken. Hence, the doctors did not follow the mandatory guidelines of the All India Ophthalmic Society and the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment for diabetes control before performing a cataract operation on a patient. Also, even though Gupta had chronic iridocyclitis, the doctors did not use topical steroid eyedrops before performing the operation. The complainant had contacted four other patients who lost vision due to the alleged botched cataract operation. They included Airoli's Kisan Dhanawade (69) and his wife Laxmi (46), Sanjeev Gupta from Vashi, and Anjani Sawant from Airoli. They also lodged a complaint at Vashi police in April. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Karnataka to launch 393 Asha Kirana vision centres to tackle preventable blindness
To tackle preventable blindness, Karnataka's Health Department has expanded and restructured the Asha Kirana programme under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment. As part of the restructured initiative, 393 Asha Kirana vision centres will be launched in public health facilities across the State simultaneously on July 3. Announcing this on Tuesday (July 1, 2025), Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told presspersons that the initiative is aimed at increasing awareness and access to eye health services, particularly targeting cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors— the two major causes of vision impairment in the country. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will inaugurate a vision centre in Bengaluru on July 3 and all the 393 centres will be launched simultaneously on the same day, he said. The programme was earlier carried out through doorstep screenings by Asha workers and field staff from the Health Department on a campaign mode. However, henceforth people can visit the vision centres in the public health facilities at their convenience and get screened for eye problems, the Minister added.
