MKCG Medical College, Berhmapur launches first Tele-Ophthalmology unit in State

More focus on eye care

First tele-ophthalmology unit in the State has been started by MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur city. Speaking to The Hindu , B. Nageswar Subudhi, Head of the Department (HOD) of Ophthalmology Department, said the tele-ophthalmology unit of the college was set up with a financial assistance of Rs. 60 lakh by the Central government under the National Programme for Control of Blindness.

The tele-ophthalmology project has a mobile unit and it would reach out to Primary Health Centres (PHC) in rural areas as well as villages without any medical centres to provide eye care at the door step of the poor and needy. The mobile unit would have direct communication link with headquarters of tele-ophthalmology project where a super specialist would be present to assist the ophthalmologic team in the mobile unit.

The mobile unit was equipped with modern instruments, said Dr. Subudhi. The data of tests of patients would be recorded digitally and the physicians in the mobile unit would take up remedial measures in consultation with headquarters of the tele-ophthalmology project. There would be online transmission of data collected from spot to the headquarters of the project.

During its visits to rural areas, the mobile unit would have one faculty member of Ophthalmology Department of MKCG Medical College and Hospital. He would be assisted by two post-graduate students of the department as well as a technician, said Dr. Subudhi.

Eye donation

It may be noted that Ophthalmology Department of MKCG Medical College and Hospital has been successful in promoting eye donation with the help of local philanthropists.

It is also hoped that direct interaction of ophthalmologists with common mass in rural areas would also increase awareness about eye care and would also make people think about eye donation after death. Source: The Hindu