Mangaluru, Feb 8: The state government is considering the implementation of schemes under National Programme of Control of Blindness (NPCB) directly without the help of NGOs.
Minister for health and family welfare U T Khader said there is a need for making direct empanelment with hospitals to implement NPCB schemes of free cataract surgeries and distribution of spectacles to beneficiaries in the state. Khader was speaking at a meeting of technical committee that was set up to frame the State Eye Health Policy here on Monday.
He said that the system of empanelment through NGOs, should be replaced with direct empanelment. "Transfer funds under NPCB directly to hospitals instead of diverting it through 200 registered NGOs. We need to fill gaps through proper mechanism and improve ophthalmological care system in the state. The possibility of double reimbursement and misuse of funds can be avoided effectively through empanelment of hospitals directly," Khader said.
Though Rs 5.7 crore has been reimbursed under the scheme, the benefit of the scheme is not being reached to people properly, Khader said pointing out the possibilities of patients being cheated by the NGOs through double payment.
"Cataract surgeries are absolutely free in all government and private hospitals," Khader said
Earlier, members of the technical committee pointed out present constraints and challenges in NPCB implementation.Eye Health program is more cataract centric and not focused on Glaucoma, Uncorrected refractive errors, Diabetic Relinopathy, Chilclhood Blindness and others.
Comprehensive eye examination is not generally practiced, especially, in outreach screening camps. Most of the NGOs utilize the services of optometrists and not Ophthalmologists in screening camps. Outreach screening camps are conducted based on the convenience of NGOs arid not based on the need.
There is a lack of structured District micro plan to cover the undeserved areas based on low cataract surgical rate (CSR). Individually corrected refractive spectacles are not provided by most of the NGOs, said Dr Krishna Prasad, chairman of the technical committee.
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