Telangana sets new benchmark in eye care, launches phaco machines under ‘Kanti Velugu’

HYDERABAD: In an unprecedented feat, the Telangana government successfully administered eye tests to 162 million people in just 100 days.

Telangana Health Minister Harish Rao and Home Minister Mahmood Ali jointly launched the Phaco machines at Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital on Wednesday.

Virtual launches of Phaco machines were also held in nine districts across the state.

Harish Rao expressed his delight on the occasion, saying, "I am thrilled to inaugurate the Phaco machines at Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital today. This equipment has been made available in accordance with Chief Minister KCR's directions, with the goal of offering superior medical services to all individuals suffering from eye problems."

The minister went on to explain the importance of the cutting-edge Phaco equipment, saying, "These advanced machines will significantly improve the performance of cataract surgeries. These machines use ultrasonic technology to make surgical procedures easier and faster, resulting in faster patient recovery."

A total of 12 Phaco machines were installed around the state, with two of them recently installed at Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital. Additionally, a single machine was installed in the Malakpet Area Hospital, while the remaining nine districts—Mahabubnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad, Sangareddy, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Vikarabad, Nalgonda, and Khammam—all had just one device each.

The government spent USD 34.6 million to acquire these devices, with each unit costing USD 2.885 million. This programme offers to provide free cataract surgeries to patients visiting government facilities, saving them the significant charges typically collected in private clinics, which range between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 40,000 each.

The medical teams went through specialised training to effectively carry out these surgeries in order to ensure successful execution of the programme. Patients diagnosed with eye problems through the Kanti Velugu program would now receive necessary treatment through these Phaco machines.

Minister Harish Rao emphasised the success of the Kanti Velugu programme, saying, "Kanti Velugu was launched with the goal of making Telangana a state free of blindness, and we have successfully completed it in two phases. The eyes are frequently considered to be the most vital sense organs, yet many people, from children to adults, suffer from numerous eye disorders. They frequently ignore these concerns, which leads to more serious complications. As the eldest son of the home, Chief Minister KCR began this remarkable programme to alleviate people's eye problems.

"No other programme in the world, apart from Telangana, offers medical personnel going to villages, conducting free examinations, and providing spectacles.We performed 62 million eye tests in just 100 working days. About 4.059 million of those with vision impairments obtained glasses, accounting for 25.1 percent. About 2.251 million persons received free spectacles and medicines, while an additional 1.808 million prescription glasses were distributed free of cost, " he said.

Harish Rao said, "Apart from Telangana, no other government in the world can claim the distinction of conducting such a large number of eye screenings and distributing spectacles and medicines.This excellent achievement establishes an all-time record in the field of eye screening."