GMC’s Ophthalmology Deptt to now perform Corneal Transplantation, Eye Banking

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, July 8: The Ophthalmology Department of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar will now be able to perform Corneal Transplantation and related activities such as Eye Banking and Eye Retrieval after it got the necessary sanction from the Government of India.
The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has granted the registration to the Ophthalmology Department of GMC Srinagar for carrying out the corneal transplantation and other related activities for the period of next 5 years after the necessary formalities and pre-requisites were fulfilled by the GMC Srinagar.
An official told Excelsior that it is a moment of pride for the GMC Srinagar as the doctors at the Ophthalmology Department can provide the patients necessary services pertaining to the Corneal Transplantation. It is to be noted here that the patients had to earlier travel outside the State for Corneal Transplantation which incurred huge expenses.
“It is going to give a major push to the patient care concerning Ophthalmology while other activities such as Eye Banking and Eye Retrieval will also improve the overall scenario in Kashmir pertaining to Cornea Transplantation,” the official said.
“This is to certify that Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital-Government Medical College, Srinagar has been inspected and a certificate of registration is granted for performing Eye Banking, Eye Retrieval, and Corneal transplantation under the Transplantation of Human Organ & Tissues Act, 1994,” reads the document issued by the Ministry to the GMC Srinagar.
The document stated that the certificate of registration is going to be valid for a period of five years from the date of issue. “This permission is being given with the current facilities and staff shown in the present document form. Any reduction in the staff and/or faculty must be brought to the notice of the undersigned,” it stated.
Pertinent to mention here that before GMC Srinagar, GMC Jammu was performing the corneal transplantation while in Kashmir no such facility was available for the patients. “We had been pursuing it for a while and have been able to get it now, to change the landscape concerning the cornea transplant,” the official said.