Financial Secretary Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, inaugurated the 100-bedded Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) at Kashmir Nursing Home Gupkar here.
The RIO will be started at Kashmir Nursing Home in a phasedmanner, Government Medical College Srinagar said in a statement here.
Inaugurating the facility, Dulloo said that the fillip inmedical facilities could help the State rise up as a medical tourismdestination. He assured the department of all the required support to developthe Institute. “We would make sure that RIO gets technical, financial andadministrative support it needs to develop as a State-of-art eye institute,” hesaid.
It was decided that one trauma unit of department of ophthalmologycontinues to function at SMHS Hospital to cater to the requirements of eyetrauma or poly-trauma. Financial secretary also impressed upon GMC authoritiesto continue keeping the facilities running for treatment of cancer patients.
GMC Principal, Prof Parvaiz A Shah congratulated thedepartment for its excellent performance. ” I hope that the eye centrewill be a big beacon in the health sector and provide basic and super specialtyeye care facilities,” he said. He said the department must start neuroopthalmology and pediatric ophthalmology also.
Head department of ophthalmology, Prof Tariq Qureshiapprised the gathering of the various developments and the recent strides ofthe government. “Starting of corneal transplant and 131 keratoplasty is amatter of pride for whole medical fraternity,” he said.
The department has treated hundreds of patients, includingforeign nationals of complex eye issues, the gathering was told. The OPDservices for ophthalmology have already been started at the facility.