Question : Eye Bank

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

(a) the number of eye banks functioning in the country at present, State/ UT-wise;

(b) the number of eye donations received during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether as per the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) only less than 50 per cent donated eyes collected are utilized for corneal transplantation;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for the same; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to make sure that the eyes donated are successfully utilized?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a): As per the information furnished by States/UTs, a statement showing the number of eye banks functioning in the country at present is given at Annexure-I.

(b): As per the information furnished by States/UTs, a statement showing the number of eye donations received during each of the last three years and current year (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19) is given at Annexure-II.

(c)& (d): As per available reports, about 40-50 percent donated eyes are utilized for corneal transplantation in States/UTs.

Prior to corneal transplantation, the collected corneas are assessed by transplant surgeons for its suitability for optical keratoplasty. However, because of various medical reasons, like poor quality of collected corneas due to the reasons like, age of donor, pre-existing degeneration/diseases etc. not all the collected corneas are found suitable for corneal transplantation. Hence, only healthy suitable corneas are utilized for corneal transplantation to restore the vision of corneal blind.



However, donated corneas not found suitable or fit for corneal transplantation are utilized either for therapeutic keratoplasty or for training and research purposes.

(e): The following steps have been taken under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI) for successful utilization of donated corneas:
I. Support to Eye Banks and Eye Donation Centres to meet the cost of identified ophthalmic equipments, consumables including preservation material & media for storage of donated corneas etc.;

II. In-service training to Eye Surgeons in Eye Banking and Keratoplasty;

III. Free supply of preservation and storage medium for donated corneas to Government Eye Banks;

IV. Collection of eyes by eye Banks from willing donors after death and also from those patients who die in hospitals under “Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme” for timely transplantation of corneas.

V. Appointment of Eye Donation Counsellors in the identified Eye Banks to promote eye donation and timely collection of donated eyes;

VI. Provision of dedicated phone line 1919 (BSNL & MTNL users) automatically linked with the area eye banks in metro cities and new 24x7 toll free No.1800-11-4770 for organ donation including eye donation.