Question : Cornea Transplantation

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of corneas transplanted and the waiting period for non-emergency transplant surgery during the last two years, State-wise;

(b) number of eye donations received during the last five years State-wise;

(c) whether the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi (AIIMS-D), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) have explored to use drones to transport corneas to hospitals for transplantation surgery in India;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to promote awareness about cornea transplantation?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): Based on the reports furnished by State Governments/UT Administrations, a statement showing number of donated corneas transplanted during the last two years under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI), State/UT- wise, is given at Annexure- I.

Information regarding waiting period for non-emergency eye transplant surgery is not maintained under NPCB&VI.

(b): A statement showing number of donated eyes collected during the last five years under NPCB&VI,State/UT-wise, is given at Annexure- II.

(c) & (d): As per the information, the project is in initial stage of discussion with Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D).

(e): The following steps have been taken under NPCB&VI to promote awareness about cornea transplantation:

• Generating mass awareness on eye health including corneal transplantation during the following annual events observed all over the country under the programme. The major activities for public awareness on eye health include panel discussions, blind walks, painting competitions in schools, felicitation of the donor families during celebratory functions etc.
? Eye Donation Fortnight from 25th August to 8th September every year.
? World Sight Day on 2nd Thursday of October every year.
• Information Education Communication (IEC) activities to educate people on eye health including importance of eye donation through print and electronic media.
• Provision of a dedicated helpline No.1919 (BSNL & MTNL users) automatically linked with the area eye banks in metro cities for providing the information on eye donation.
• Toll Free helpline No. 1800-11-4770 for organ donation including eye donation in the country.
• Support to States for appointment of eye donation counsellors at identified eye banks to promote eye donation and corneal transplantation.
• Promoting Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP), where attempts are made to motivate and counsel relatives of a deceased person in Hospital for Eye Donation by sensitizing them about corneal blindness and benefits of corneal transplantation.