Lok Sabha Question No. 4797 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Eye Banks
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4797 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH MARCH,2026

## EYEBANKS

## 4797. SHRIANUPSANJAYDHOTRE:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to State:

- (a) the number of functional Eye Banks in the Country, State/UT-wise. including the number of corneas collected during the last three years, year-wise;
- (b) whether there are any functional Eye Banks or Eye Donation Centres operating in Akola and Washim districts of Maharashtra;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the number of corneas collected and corneal transplant surgeries performed during the said period;
- (d) whether the Government has fixed any annual targets for eye donation and if so. the details of such targets set and achieved during each of the last three years. State/UT-wise;
- (e) whether sufficient infrastructure and trained manpower are available in the country, particularly in districts such as Akola and Washim, to perform corneal transplant surgeries and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, the initiatives or proposals undertaken by the Government to strengthen eye banking facilities and corneal transplant services in these districts?

## (ANSWER) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (f) As per the information provided by various States/UTs a total of 396 Eye banks are functional across the Country. The number of cornea collected during 2022-23,2023-24 and 2024-25 are 62,370, 66,434 and 69,848 respectively

In Akola there is one eye bank and three eye doantion Centres. Additionally, one eye donation Centres is operational in Washim district of Maharashtra.

The details of Cornea collection and cornea transplant surgeries performed in Akola and Washim district of Maharashtra is given below:

| Akola   | Akola                    | Akola                    | Wasim                    | Wasim                    |
|---------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| Year    | Cornea Collection (Nos.) | Cornea transplant (Nos.) | Cornea Collection (Nos.) | Cornea transplant (Nos.) |
| 2022-23 | 118                      | 44                       | 22                       | 0                        |
| 2023-24 | 78                       | 47                       | 32                       | 0                        |
| 2024-25 | 138                      | 70                       | 46                       | 0                        |

The National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) provides for strengthening of eye banking and Cornea transplant services in the country. Under the programme, financial assistance is extended for infrastructure, development, procurement of equipment and training of ophthalmologists and eye bank technicians. It also supports promotion of eye donation activities and free supply of cornea storage medium to Government eye banks across the Country.

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