New Delhi|HL
Safdarjung Hospital became the first central government hospital to have exclusive & dedicated Modular OT for performing specialized eye surgeries. The inauguration of the Super Speciality Eye OT was done by the Medical Superintendent Dr Vandana Talwar today.
Expansion of Services: The expanded range of services in Super Speciality Wing & OT would include Vitreo-Retina Surgeries, Advanced Glaucoma Minimal Invasive surgery, Orbit & Oculoplasty services, Eye Banking & Corneal Transplantation , Advanced Laser & Endo laser surgery, Paediatric Ophthalmology and Complicated ophthalmic Surgeries, including Multidisciplinary surgeries as well.
The importance of inception of these kinds of services lies in the sheer volume of blindness in India. India has 62 million people who are estimated to be visually impaired with 8 million of them being blind. With the world’s largest blind population, India has the undesirable distinction of being the ” Blind Capital of the World”.
Surgeries under Ayushman Bharat Yojana : Medical Superintendent Dr Vandana Talwar highlighted the need of such centres as most centers in the country are not well equipped to deal with the super specialty ophthalmic surgeries. Indeed the start of this Specialized service would bridge the gulf between unmet demand and available services for specialised surgeries thus directly benefiting the masses. She further added that most of these surgeries come under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat yojana(PMJAY) and the start of this service would particularly be a boon for the beneficiaries of this scheme .However, she added , the expanded service would be free and universal to all people coming to Safdarjung Hospital seeking Specialized ophthalmic Surgery.
Centre will help for referral patients: As per the HOD ophthalmology Dr Anuj Mehta, the class of patients which department of ophthalmology deals with majorly is referral patients , which comprises a major portion of the spectra of overall patients. Most of their referral is regarding specialized ophthalmic Surgery.
Specialized eye surgeries need high end instruments, modular OT, state of the art equipment and advanced diagnostic & Investigative paraphernalia which is available in very few hospitals . Further the Retina & Glaucoma diagnostic & investigative labs are being upgraded to provide ancillary support to the expanded services of the dept. According to him Dept of ophthalmology, Safdarjung Hospital , aspires to become the centre of excellence in super speciality eye services & advanced ophthalmic surgeries, where free of cost surgery would be done,thus directly benefiting the poor strata who cannot afford costly treatment in the private sector.
