Charity eye hospital a boon for patients

Ravinder Sood

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Palampur, February 10

The Palampur Rotary Eye Foundation, a charitable organisation committed to serve visually challenged persons for the last 38 years, has proved a boon for residents of eight districts of the state. The society provides services not only to patients of Himachal Pradesh, but also patients of the neighbouring states of Punjab, J&K and Haryana.

With the support of the local community, the foundation has established three eye hospitals at Maranda (Palampur), Paragpur (Dehra) in Kangra and Dhussara in Una. The organisation has also set up a women and child care hospital at Thakurdwara (Palampur).

3.5 lakh patients operated on

Over 34 lakh patients have visited the centres, out of whom 3.50 lakh patients were operated upon for various eye ailments, and their sight was restored at very reasonable charges. Free surgeries are also performed here for the poor. — KG Butail, Palampur Rotary Eye Foundation chairman

“All the hospitals are equipped with the latest infrastructure for the treatment of eye patients. Today, all types of minor and major surgeries are performed at the hospital. Since the inception of the eye care centres, over 34 lakh patients have visited the centres, out of whom 3.50 lakh patients were operated upon for various eye ailments, and their sight was restored at very reasonable charges. Free surgeries are also performed here for the poor and the needy. Earlier, residents of the area had to go to Amritsar and Chandigarh,” said foundation chairman KG Butail.

The Rotary Eye Foundation was formed in 1981 — the International Year of the Disabled. Twenty-eight founding members of Palampur Rotary Club pledged to serve the curable blind. It was envisaged to create an institution with facilities for detailed investigations, treatments and surgery of all kinds of eye aliments. A campaign to raise funds was launched with the active participation of the local community. About Rs 3 lakh was raised in first phase to break ground on the construction work of first block.

Today, the hospital has sufficient funds in hand and is committed to modernise its infrastructure year after year. The hospital has procured modern machinery, with some imported from the UK, US and Japan. The hospital has emerged as pioneer institution for eye treatment in North India.

Late Dr Shiv Kumar, a well-known social activist who had set up dozens of education institutions in Himachal, was the founding chairman of the Rotary Eye Hospital (Palampur).

L. Balak Ram Sood of the Raipur Tea Estate donated a plot of land in memory of his father Mela Mal and the institution was named Mela Mal Rotary Eye Hospital.

According to Butail, the Foundation has been organising free check-up camps for last several years. The fee for eye check-up at the hospitals is only Rs 20.

“The hospital was awarded by the government in 2022 and 2024 for providing exemplary service in the Ayushman Bharat schemes. Rotary Eye Hospital (Maranda) is approved by the Quality Council of India for providing the services with all quality standards. The hospital is the only hospital in state to be a part of Vision 2020 Mission,” he added.