At Area Hospital, Bhadrachalam, in Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district, a single specialist has helped bring specialised eye surgery to patients from remote tribal areas and even neighbouring States.

The Ophthalmology Unit of the hospital has completed 400 cataract surgeries since its dedicated ophthalmic operation theatre was established in December 2023. Patients have travelled to Bhadrachalam not only from Bhadradri Kothagudem district but also from Warangal, Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

The unit currently performs around 20 cataract surgeries a month and has increased its surgical schedule from one to two days a week. The achievement is significant given the geographical challenges of the agency area and the limited availability of specialist manpower.

The ophthalmic operation theatre, the first-of-its-kind in the entire district, was established in December 2023, even before a similar facility was established at Government General Hospital (GGH), Kothagudem. It was set up with financial support from former District Collector Anudeep Durishetty on the initiative of District Coordinator of Health Services (DCHS) Dr. G. Ravi Babu. 

The facility subsequently received continued support from successive District Collectors Jitesh V. Patil and Ankit, and ITDA Project Officer B. Rahul. “Their support included intraocular lenses, surgical consumables and other requirements, enabling the unit to provide cataract surgery services consistently,” said Dr. Ravi Babu.

The hospital performs modern phacoemulsification cataract surgeries. The 400 procedures have been completed without major complications. The unit is also among the best-performing ophthalmology units under the Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (TVVP), despite functioning with a single ophthalmologist appointed on a contract basis.

“For a hospital located in a remote tribal region, the ability to provide specialised surgical care without patients having to travel to major urban centres represents a significant healthcare service. The hospital has been able to sustain the service through a combination of administrative support, dedicated infrastructure, essential surgical consumables and specialist medical and support staff,” added Dr. Ravi Babu.

He appreciated ophthalmologist Dr. Santosh as well as the entire ophthalmology nursing, operation theatre and support teams for their sustained commitment. According to Dr. Ravi Babu, the ophthalmic operation theatre was established using district funds and, so far, has not received State funds.