Our Correspondent
IMPHAL, April 30
The subsidized section of Shija Eye Care Foundation(SECF) at Shija Hospital and Research Institute (SHRI) in Imphal was formally inaugurated at the Langol complex of the hospital in Imphal on Wednesday.
The OPD charges for the subsidized section will be Rs 20 and the OPD patient will not be charged any extra OPD fees during the validity period of 1st three months. Surgeries and other treatments will be done at subsidized rate for the poor patients, says Hospital sources.
As part of its subsidized services many eye diseases detection camps are being planned in the outskirts of Manipur.
As per the current annual statistics of Manipur, out of 22000 cataract cases only 16% get the benefit of treatment while out of 360000 refractive error cases only 20% are corrected, according to Consultant Ophthalmologist of SECF Dr Sachindra Laishram.
Mentored by LAICO (Lion’s Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology) and Aravind Eye Care Systems, Madurai, Shija Eye Care Foundation has successfully re-engineered its processes and systems to make the services inclusive for all.
The Ophthalmologist informed the gathering that the subsidized section’s main objective is to reach out to the underserved poor and needy eye patients under the global initiative of Vision 2020 – eliminating avoidable blindness.
Deputy Chief Minister, Manipur Gaikhangam, Minister (Commerce & Industry) Govindas Konthoujam and Chairman cum Managing Director of SHRI Dr Kh Palin were the chief guest, guest of honour and functional president of the formal inauguration function.
Speaking on the occasion Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam emphasized on the advantages of Manipur under India’s Act East Policy and asserted the gathering that there is huge potential of attracting foreign tourists in this part of the country.
Gaikhangam who also holds the home affairs portfolio shared his views on the potentials of tourism industry in Manipur especially in the fields of medical and education while speaking at the formal inauguration of
He also expressed his admirations on the entrepreneurship skills of Dr Kh Palin of Shija Hospitals and Dr Th Dhabali, Managing Director, Babina Healthcare & Hospitality Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Applauding the new initiative of SECF, Minister Govindas, speaking on the occasion, praised the Mission for Vision – Myanmar wherein 179 cataract surgeries were performed free of cost by a team from Shija Eye Care Foundation at Monywa General Hospital, Sagaing region.
In his presidential speech, CMD of Shija Hospitals Dr Khundongbam Palin highlighted the need of public private partnership to provide affordable world class health care to the populace of the region.
Many patients are being referred outside the state for treatment.
He further elaborated on introducing advanced treatment facilities such as infertility, cardiac science, organ transplantation, joint replacement etc at the doorstep.
This would help in cutting down the State’s exchequer.
