Cataract campaign: Over 75 lakh surgeries performed in 2022-23
The campaign was fast-tracked during 17-31 January. The government plans increase the number of cataract surgeries under the campaign to 90 lakh this financial year and 105 lakh in FY25.
PremiumNew Delhi: The Union health ministry on Thursday said that more than 75 lakh cataract surgeries were performed during 2022-23 under a special campaign, spread over three years, to clear the backlog of cases that had piled up during the covid-19 pandemic. With this, the government plans to bring the blindness rate among those above 50 years of age to 0.25% by 2025 which at present is around 0.36%.
“Due to covid disruptions, cataract surgeries were largely affected under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI). Therefore, last year the Union health ministry planned a special campaign for removing the backlog of cataract surgeries for blindness and targeted to conduct at least 75 cataract surgeries in 2022. All the States/UTs were directed to speed up procedure of cataract surgeries," said a health ministry official.
The campaign was fast-tracked during 17-31 January. The government plans increase the number of cataract surgeries performed under the campaign to 90 lakh this financial year and 105 lakh in FY25.
“The NPCBVI survey (2015-2019) revealed that people above 50 years of age are having blindness with cataract being one of the primary reasons. According to this survey, in 2019 the blindness rate was 1% which has further reduced to 0.36%." said the official.
The central government had launched the National Programme for Control of Blindness in 1976 which was a centrally funded scheme. It was updated to National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) with fund sharing in 60:40 ratio between the Centre and state governments.
"Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels 🚀 Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here!
