Govt wakes up from slumber: GMC to have eye bank soon

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Oct 03: After fifteen years since its enactment, the state government finally mooted a proposal to establish a Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) in Srinagar and two eye-banks one each in Government Medical Colleges of the state to comply with statutory obligation under the Jammu and Kashmir Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1997.

This was disclosed by HOD Department of Opthalamology Dr Sudhir Bhagotra while talking to TNI.

Dr Bhagotra further said that proposal has been sent to the state government for further proceedings.

He maintained that after sanctioned the funds by the state government the department needs to purchase the required infrastructure of functioning of Eye Bank.

“As per the new guidelines of the centre government for the transplant of body organ there are certain rules which have to be fulfilled by the department for running an eye bank” Dr Bhagotra added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the hospital had the facility of Eye Bank a decade ago but due to some problems the bank had to be closed. 

After Human Organs Transplantation Act was passed in the country envisaging transplantation of human organs, including eyes, in a recognized and registered medical institution by competent eye specialists the eye bank in GMCH has closed as it does not follow the norms and guidelines required for an Eye Bank.

 As per sources, the Eye Bank infrastructure had been deported to other departments. The ambulance of the eye bank is now being used for transportation of the students.

Sources further said that the project would be fully funded by Union government.

“The Union government had assured the state government to fully fund the project which is to the tune of Rs. 78 Crores, but the land was to be provided by state government” sources said, adding that the state government has identified 16 Kanals of land in Dewanbagh Sringar.