New Delhi-based Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH) is planning to launch a major childhood blindness prevention programme soon. While the initial attempt would be to eradicate preventable childhood blindness from among the young population in and around Delhi, it would be extended to other states of North India at a later stage.

Informing this to Pharmabiz.com, S Ramesh Shankar, chief executive officer, SCEH said that the programme would be implemented by making use of corporate sponsorship. As part of the programme, the hospital would organize screening camps in various parts of the state. They would also train NGOs working in the health segment to assist them in the programme.

SCEH has decided to open satellite clinics in the National Capital Region of Delhi. These clinics are to come up in areas where there are less eye care facilities.

Commenting on the recent achievements of the hospital, Shankar pointed out that they have been selected by ORBIS International, an international NGO devoted to eye care, as its local partner. The NGO had recently extended its sponsorships to SCEH for another two years, he said. SCEH had developed North India's best paediatric ophthalmology department by utilizing the funds made available by ORBIS. He also informed about the assistance being offered by Combat Blindness Foundation for free supply of consumables for surgeries for one year. Our long term vision is to develop SCEH into a good community care hospital, he said.

The CEO wanted the charity hospital to turn self sustainable for improving its community eye care programmes. "In three to four years we would be making more money. Capacity building programmes setting up satellite clinics are all part of our immediate goals", he explained.

The hospital is having an Outreach Programme in Alwar, Rajasthan to serve the villages and slums. The patients needing surgery are brought by our bus to the main hospital in Delhi, and then returned to their homes. Shankar informed that the hospital will have its own operation theatre facility in Alwar, thereby enabling them to carry out basic cataract surgeries from there itself.

"Last year 44 per cent of surgeries performed in the hospital were done free of charge. We would like to retain this ratio but at the same time generate more money through paid surgeries. Capacity utilization would be the first thing to do. We need to harness the full potential of this place. We can conduct 9,000 surgeries a year. But now its just 5, 000," he said.

SCEH has a long tradition of Eye and ENT care. Established in 1927, the hospital has served the poor in Delhi. Since 1996, SCEH has been managed by Eicher Goodearth Ltd, its main donor.