By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bihar Health Department and Sankara Eye Foundation India, Coimbatore, on Friday at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Patna. The MoU, which was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, outlines the construction and operation of a super specialty eye hospital in Patna.
Bihar Health Department Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh and Managing Director of Sankara Eye Foundation India, Padmashree Dr. RB Ramani, signed the agreement and exchanged copies of the document. This collaboration is expected to bring significant relief to the people of Bihar, who will no longer need to travel outside the state for advanced eye care.
Affordable and Accessible Eye Care
A key feature of the hospital is that 75 percent of the patients will receive free treatment, while the remaining 25 percent will be charged. Families with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh will be eligible for free treatment.
The state government has already approved the lease of 1.60 acres of land in Kankarbagh, Patna, at a token amount of Rs 1, for the construction of the Sankara Eye Foundation Super Specialty Eye Hospital. This approval was granted by the Cabinet on 3rd December 2024.
Sankara Eye Foundation India, a globally recognised name in eye care, will bear the entire cost of constructing and operating the hospital. The facility will provide comprehensive eye care services, including treatment for complex conditions such as corneal transplants, retinal detachment, and eye cancer.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The signing ceremony was attended by several senior officials, including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Health Minister Mangal Pandey, Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department Pratyaya Amrit, and other prominent figures from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and Health Department.
This new partnership promises to enhance the quality of eye care in Bihar, making it more accessible and affordable for the state’s residents.
