Lok Sabha Question No. 2099 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-10
Subject: Eye Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Supriya Sadanand Sule, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Kuldeep Rai Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2099 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## EYE HOSPITALS

2099.  SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR. S: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE DR SUBHASH RAMARAO BHAMRE DR AMOLRAMSING KOLHE SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- a): the number of eye hospitals functioning in the country, State/UT-wise;
- b)  Whether  these  hospitals  have  shortage  of  senior  doctors/specialists  resulting  in  hardship  to patients and if so, the details thereof and the correctives steps taken in this regard
- c): whether theCentral Governmenthospitals and its associated hospitals including All India Institute of  Medical  Sciences  lack  adequate  basic  facility  including  advanced  eye  treatment  and  if  so,  the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- d) whether the Government has received any proposals from the State Governments of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu for setting up of eye hospitals and if so, the details thereof; and
- e)  the steps taken /being taken by the Government to improve the facility in eye hospitals including timely retrieval and transplantation of eyes and also to promote eye donation in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR.BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (c): Health is a State subject.  However, Central Government supplements the efforts of State  Governments  by  providing  technical  and  financial  support.    The  Government  of  India  has Centrally  Sponsored  scheme  namely  'National  Programme  for  Control  of  Blindness  and  Visual Impairment'(NPCBVI)under which the tertiary eye care services are provided at Eye Care Hospitals, Regional  Institute  of  Ophthalmology(RIO)  and  other  hospitals  of  central  government.  Apart fromthem, the eye care hospitals are set up by State Governments, Local Bodies, NGOs and in the private sector also.  The complete data in this regard is not available.  The information on the number of hospitals as made available by the State Governments is given at Annexure-I. The details of the data available on 'Vision Atlas' prepared in 2020 by the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi is given at Annexure II .Some of the States have reported shortage of Doctors/Specialists at eye hospitals.

As far as the central government hospitals and its associated hospitals including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are concerned, they do have adequate basic facility and also the facilities for advanced eye treatment.  Under the NPCBVI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides funds  for  identified  equipments  and  modular  eye  OTs  at  RIOs  and  Central  Government  Eye Hospitals.  The programme also provides funds for strengthening of eye wards at district hospitals in States/UTs.

(d) No, Sir.

(e) The Government has taken following steps to improve the facility in the eye hospitals, timely retrieval and transplantation of eyes and also to promote eye donation in the country:

- 1) Central Government provides financial assistance to Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology for  strengthening  and  up-gradation  of  (RIOs)  to  become  Centres  of Excellence  (COE)  in  various  sub-specialties  of  ophthalmology  and  also  other  partners like  Government  Medical  College,  District  Hospitals,  Sub-district  Hospitals,  Vision Centres;
- 2) Financial  Assistance  for  construction  of  dedicated  Eye  Wards  and  Eye  OTs  in  District Hospitals of the States.
- 3) Assistance to Eye Banks and Eye Donation Centres for improvement in cornea collection and eye banking services;
- 4) For an efficient eye banking system, a three tier organization structure is followed. At the top of the pyramid is the Eye Bank Training Center followed by Eye Banks and at the base of the pyramid is the eye retrieval/Donation center.
- 5) Pattern  of  assistance  provided  by  Central  Government  under  NPCBVI  is  attached  at Annexure-III.

*****

## States/UTs wise number of Eye Hospitals (Government or Private Sector) in the Country

| S.No.   | States/UTs          | No. of Eye Hospitals                       | No. of Eye Hospitals                      | No. of Eye Hospitals   |
|---------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|------------------------|
| S.No.   | States/UTs          | Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIOs) | Government Sector with District Hospitals | Private/ NGO Sector    |
| 1.      | Andhra Pradesh      | 0                                          | 72                                        | 423                    |
| 2.      | Arunachal Pradesh   | 0                                          | 08                                        | NR                     |
| 3.      | Assam               | 01                                         | 30                                        | NR                     |
| 4.      | Bihar               | 01                                         | 66                                        | NR                     |
| 5.      | Chhattisgarh        | 01                                         | 35                                        | 94                     |
| 6.      | Chandigarh          | 0                                          | 03                                        | NR                     |
| 7.      | Dadra &Nagar Haveli | 0                                          | 04                                        | 06                     |
| 8.      | Daman &Diu          | 0                                          | NR                                        | NR                     |
| 9.      | Delhi               | 01                                         | 35                                        | NR                     |
| 10.     | Goa                 | 0                                          | 04                                        | 09                     |
| 11.     | Gujarat             | 01                                         | 88                                        | 128                    |
| 12.     | Haryana             | 01                                         | 39                                        | 279                    |
| 13.     | Himachal Pradesh    | 0                                          | 23                                        | NR                     |
| 14.     | Jammu               | 0                                          | 0                                         | 0                      |
| 15.     | Kashmir             | 01                                         | NR                                        | NR                     |
| 16.     | Jharkhand           | 01                                         | 14                                        | NR                     |
| 17.     | Karnataka           | 01                                         | NR                                        | 107                    |
| 18.     | Kerala              | 01                                         | 60                                        | NR                     |
| 19.     | Lakshadweep         | 0                                          | 01                                        | 0                      |
| 20.     | Madhya Pradesh      | 01                                         | 0                                         | 0                      |
| 21.     | Maharashtra         | 01                                         | 1903                                      | 1903                   |
| 22.     | Manipur             | 0                                          | 0                                         | 0                      |
| 23.     | Meghalaya           | 0                                          | 03                                        | 0                      |
| 24.     | Mizoram             | 0                                          | 08                                        | 0                      |
| 25.     | Nagaland            | 0                                          | 0                                         | 0                      |
| 26.     | Odisha              | 01                                         | 50                                        | 84                     |
| 27.     | Puducherry          | 0                                          | 06                                        | 14                     |
| 28.     | Punjab              | 01                                         | NR                                        | NR                     |
| 29.     | Rajasthan           | 01                                         | 73                                        | 0                      |
| 30.     | Sikkim              | 0                                          | 05                                        | 0                      |
| 31.     | Tamil Nadu          | 01                                         | 96                                        | 600                    |
| 32.     | Telangana           | 01                                         | 13                                        | 56                     |
| 33.     | Tripura             | 0                                          | 0                                         | 0                      |
| 34.     | Uttar Pradesh       | 02                                         | 132                                       | 175                    |
| 35.     | Uttarakhand         | 0                                          | 28                                        | 11                     |
| 36.     | West Bengal         | 01                                         | 100                                       | NR                     |
|         | Total               | 20                                         | 2,899                                     | 1,986                  |

NR- Not Reported by States.

## ANNEXURE-II

| State               |   Total institut e |   govt. Institute |   pvt Institut e |   ngo Institute |   Total ophthalmologi st |   Full Time ophthalmol ogist |   Part Time ophthalmolo gist |
|---------------------|--------------------|-------------------|------------------|-----------------|--------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| A & N ISLANDS       |                  1 |                 1 |                0 |               0 |                        3 |                            0 |                            3 |
| ANDHRA PRADESH      |                397 |                46 |              284 |              67 |                      950 |                          781 |                          169 |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH   |                  8 |                 8 |                0 |               0 |                       12 |                           12 |                            0 |
| ASSAM               |                101 |                38 |               52 |              11 |                      330 |                          262 |                           68 |
| BIHAR               |                248 |                40 |              171 |              37 |                      550 |                          380 |                          170 |
| CHANDIGARH          |                 21 |                 3 |               16 |               2 |                      116 |                           97 |                           19 |
| CHATTISGARH         |                103 |                38 |               59 |               6 |                      219 |                          187 |                           32 |
| DADRA& NAGAR HAVELI |                  4 |                 1 |                3 |               0 |                        7 |                            7 |                            0 |
| DAMAN & DIU         |                  1 |                 0 |                1 |               0 |                        1 |                            1 |                            0 |
| DELHI               |                249 |                36 |              193 |              20 |                     1085 |                          772 |                          313 |
| GOA                 |                 62 |                14 |               48 |               0 |                      115 |                           68 |                           47 |
| GUJARAT             |                648 |                57 |              471 |             120 |                     1270 |                          975 |                          295 |
| HARYANA             |                329 |                34 |              251 |              44 |                      774 |                          515 |                          259 |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH    |                 62 |                15 |               40 |               7 |                      132 |                          105 |                           27 |
| JAMMU& KASHMIR      |                 45 |                22 |               22 |               1 |                      140 |                          120 |                           20 |
| JHARKHAND           |                183 |                22 |              122 |              39 |                      405 |                          230 |                          175 |
| KARNATAKA           |                504 |               113 |              340 |              51 |                     1400 |                         1110 |                          290 |
| KERALA              |                219 |                46 |              147 |              26 |                      700 |                          542 |                          158 |
| LAKSHADWEEP         |                  1 |                 1 |                0 |               0 |                        2 |                            2 |                            0 |
| Ladakh              |                  2 |                 2 |                0 |               0 |                        2 |                            2 |                            0 |
| MADHYA PRADESH      |                242 |                64 |              150 |              28 |                      656 |                          509 |                          147 |
| MAHARASHTRA         |               1360 |               105 |             1116 |             139 |                     3533 |                         2255 |                         1278 |
| MANIPUR             |                  8 |                 6 |                1 |               1 |                       20 |                           17 |                            3 |
| MEGHALAYA           |                 14 |                 9 |                2 |               3 |                       27 |                           20 |                            7 |
| MIZORAM             |                 11 |                 8 |                0 |               3 |                       25 |                           22 |                            3 |
| NAGALAND            |                  9 |                 6 |                2 |               1 |                        9 |                            8 |                            1 |
| ODISHA              |                173 |                52 |               87 |              34 |                      475 |                          351 |                          124 |
| PONDICHERRY         |                 20 |                 3 |                9 |               8 |                      184 |                          177 |                            7 |
| PUNJAB              |                324 |                26 |              254 |              44 |                      734 |                          534 |                          200 |
| RAJASTHAN           |                424 |                81 |              279 |              64 |                      892 |                          729 |                          163 |
| SIKKIM              |                  6 |                 4 |                2 |               0 |                       10 |                            9 |                            1 |
| TAMIL NADU          |                499 |                95 |              340 |              64 |                     1933 |                         1623 |                          310 |
| TELANGANA           |                415 |                 9 |              385 |              21 |                      948 |                          707 |                          241 |
| TRIPURA             |                 14 |                 9 |                2 |               3 |                       27 |                           18 |                            9 |
| UTTAR PRADESH       |                718 |               109 |              487 |             122 |                     1671 |                         1265 |                          406 |
| UTTARAKHAND         |                 99 |                20 |               61 |              18 |                      235 |                          182 |                           53 |
| WEST BENGAL         |                377 |                87 |              183 |             107 |                     1352 |                          779 |                          573 |
| Total               |               7901 |              1230 |             5580 |            1091 |                    20944 |                        15373 |                         5571 |

## Pattern of Assistance provided by Central Government

| Grant-in-aid for maintenance of ophthalmic equipments                        | Maintenance of ophthalmic equipments @Rs.5 lakhper district ensure longevity of costly ophthalmic equipments supplied under the programme. (States shall include this activity in Bio-Medical Equipments Maintenance Programme (BEMP). However, the State continue the existing procedure, till the activity is awarded under   | Maintenance of ophthalmic equipments @Rs.5 lakhper district ensure longevity of costly ophthalmic equipments supplied under the programme. (States shall include this activity in Bio-Medical Equipments Maintenance Programme (BEMP). However, the State continue the existing procedure, till the activity is awarded under   | Maintenance of ophthalmic equipments @Rs.5 lakhper district ensure longevity of costly ophthalmic equipments supplied under the programme. (States shall include this activity in Bio-Medical Equipments Maintenance Programme (BEMP). However, the State continue the existing procedure, till the activity is awarded under   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Financial Assistance to RIOs under NPCBVI (Tertiary Care Scheme)             | During last three years 10 Centers of Excellence (Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology)have been strengthened by providing financial assistance of Rs. 20 crore for procurement of Ophthalmic                                                                                                                                   | During last three years 10 Centers of Excellence (Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology)have been strengthened by providing financial assistance of Rs. 20 crore for procurement of Ophthalmic                                                                                                                                   | During last three years 10 Centers of Excellence (Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology)have been strengthened by providing financial assistance of Rs. 20 crore for procurement of Ophthalmic                                                                                                                                   |
| Grant-in-aid for District Hospitals/ Sub-District Hospitals/ Vision Centres  | Strengthening of District Hospitals/ Sub-District Hospitals/ PHCs (Vision Centres) in Govt. Sector. (As per IPHS norms based on the state proposals)                                                                                                                                                                            | Strengthening of District Hospitals/ Sub-District Hospitals/ PHCs (Vision Centres) in Govt. Sector. (As per IPHS norms based on the state proposals)                                                                                                                                                                            | Strengthening of District Hospitals/ Sub-District Hospitals/ PHCs (Vision Centres) in Govt. Sector. (As per IPHS norms based on the state proposals)                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Grant-in-aid for Eye Banks                                                   | Eye Banks in public sector upto Rs.40 lakhper unit for equipments and furnishing towards strengthening/developing eye banks. Around 320 eye banks are functioning in India.                                                                                                                                                     | Eye Banks in public sector upto Rs.40 lakhper unit for equipments and furnishing towards strengthening/developing eye banks. Around 320 eye banks are functioning in India.                                                                                                                                                     | Eye Banks in public sector upto Rs.40 lakhper unit for equipments and furnishing towards strengthening/developing eye banks. Around 320 eye banks are functioning in India.                                                                                                                                                     |
| Grant-in-aid for Eye Donation Centres                                        | Eye Donation Centre in public sector upto Rs.1 lakhper unit for strengthening/developing eye donation centre.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Eye Donation Centre in public sector upto Rs.1 lakhper unit for strengthening/developing eye donation centre.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Eye Donation Centre in public sector upto Rs.1 lakhper unit for strengthening/developing eye donation centre.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Grant-in-aid for construction of dedicated eye units                         | Construction of Dedicated Eye Unit (Eye Ward and Eye OT) in public sector @Rs.100 lakh per unit.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | Construction of Dedicated Eye Unit (Eye Ward and Eye OT) in public sector @Rs.100 lakh per unit.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | Construction of Dedicated Eye Unit (Eye Ward and Eye OT) in public sector @Rs.100 lakh per unit.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Grant-in-aid to Eye Banks in Government/Voluntary Sector                     | Recurring GIA to Eye Bank @ Rs.2,000/- per pair of eyes (Eye Bank will reimburse to Eye Donation Centre attached with it for eye collected by them @ Rs.1,000/- per pair of eyes ) to meet the cost of consumables including preservation material & media, transportation/POL and contingencies.                               | Recurring GIA to Eye Bank @ Rs.2,000/- per pair of eyes (Eye Bank will reimburse to Eye Donation Centre attached with it for eye collected by them @ Rs.1,000/- per pair of eyes ) to meet the cost of consumables including preservation material & media, transportation/POL and contingencies.                               | Recurring GIA to Eye Bank @ Rs.2,000/- per pair of eyes (Eye Bank will reimburse to Eye Donation Centre attached with it for eye collected by them @ Rs.1,000/- per pair of eyes ) to meet the cost of consumables including preservation material & media, transportation/POL and contingencies.                               |
| Grant-in-aid for Keratoplasty to NGOs .and private practitioners             | Keratoplasty @Rs.7,500/- During last three years details of Corneal Collection and Keratoplasty is as under:-                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Keratoplasty @Rs.7,500/- During last three years details of Corneal Collection and Keratoplasty is as under:-                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Keratoplasty @Rs.7,500/- During last three years details of Corneal Collection and Keratoplasty is as under:-                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Grant-in-aid for Keratoplasty to NGOs .and private practitioners             | Year                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Collection of Donated Eyes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | Keratoplasty                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Grant-in-aid for Keratoplasty to NGOs .and private practitioners             | 2018-19                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 68409                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 26601                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Grant-in-aid for Keratoplasty to NGOs .and private practitioners             | 2019-20                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 65417                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 31019                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Grant-in-aid for Keratoplasty to NGOs .and private practitioners             | 2020-21                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 17402                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 11859                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Grant-in-aid for Information Education Communication (IEC) in State/district | State level IEC @Rs.10 lakh for minor States and Rs.20 lakh for major States. IEC activities Under the IEC activities of the National                                                                                                                                                                                           | State level IEC @Rs.10 lakh for minor States and Rs.20 lakh for major States. IEC activities Under the IEC activities of the National                                                                                                                                                                                           | State level IEC @Rs.10 lakh for minor States and Rs.20 lakh for major States. IEC activities Under the IEC activities of the National                                                                                                                                                                                           |

| intensified publicity through all available media is given to step up eye donation campaign and persuade people to donate eyes after death. The focus of the fortnight has been shifted from 'Pledging of Eyes' to 'Actual Collection of Eyes' by launching 'Hospital Retrievable Programme' in major hospitals with various specialties, teaching hospitals attached to medical colleges and large multi speciality hospitals in Government and Non - Government Sector, Army, Railways, ESI and Industrial Establishments of the Country.   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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