Kathmandu: The Ministry of Health and Population has signed an agreement with the Nepal Eye Program Tilganga Institute to enhance access to eye care services for Nepali citizens.
The agreement was formalized in the presence of Health Minister Pradeep Paudel and Tilganga’s Executive Director, renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Sanduk Ruit. As per the agreement, the ministry will support the expansion of Tilganga’s services and capacity, while the institute will provide its locally produced lenses at a 10% discount for citizens in remote areas and at further reduced rates for others.
Tilganga’s lenses, recognized for their high quality, are exported to multiple countries. With this agreement, these lenses will now be made available to Nepali citizens at subsidized prices. Additionally, the institute will focus on training specialized eye care professionals and expanding services to rural areas to combat blindness.
The agreement also includes provisions for coordination with provincial and local governments to ensure the effective implementation of eye care programs. The ministry has pledged to facilitate the import of raw materials and equipment necessary for cataract surgery lenses by providing customs and value-added tax exemptions in accordance with existing laws.
Furthermore, the ministry will assist in enhancing the technical skills of healthcare workers at hospitals where Tilganga operates eye care programs. Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, Minister Paudel acknowledged Dr. Ruit’s contributions to Nepal’s eye care sector and emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting his work.
“Dr. Ruit has earned global recognition for his work in eye care,” said Minister Paudel. “His leadership has made Nepal a trusted name in lens production, and we are ready to extend further support in the coming days.”
Dr. Ruit, in response, praised Minister Paudel’s proactive approach to healthcare improvements and expressed Tilganga’s willingness to collaborate with the government. “We are prepared to work together. We seek support to compete at an international level,” he stated.