How one ophthalmologist helped a government hospital in Telangana’s remote tribal region complete 400 cataract surgeries
A single ophthalmologist at a government hospital in Bhadrachalam, Telangana, has successfully performed 400 cataract surgeries since late 2023. The initiative provides critical eye care to remote tribal populations with support from local district administration.
Why it matters
This demonstrates how targeted medical interventions and administrative support can bridge healthcare gaps in underserved, remote regions.
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 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
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