Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Union Government is aware that Government of Andhra Pradesh proposes “Dr. Y.S.R. Kanti Velugu” a scheme to help the eye patients by conducting eye tests in six phases covering all the people in the State;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of the funding of the Union Government to the State to implement the scheme so far?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a & b): As per the information received from Government of Andhra Pradesh, the State has initiated a programme called “Dr.Y.S.R.Kanti Velugu” – Mass Eye Screening to provide comprehensive Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Eye care services to the population free of cost to be implemented in six phases over a period of three years from 10.10.2019 to 31.7.2021. The objectives of the programme are:
• Reduce the avoidable blindness from 1% to 0.3%.
• Provide appropriate interventions, i.e., spectacles distribution, cataract surgeries, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, childhood blindness etc.
• Strengthen Government eye care institutions.
• Train ophthalmic surgeons in IOL, Phaco etc.
• Establish Regional Institute of Ophthalmology in the State.
(c): The states are funded under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI, for carrying out various activities so as to bring down the prevalence of avoidable blindness. These activities are Cataract Surgeries, Spectacles Distribution, Management of other Diseases like Diabetic Retinopathy, corneal Blindness etc., training of eye surgeons and strengthening of District hospital, CHCs and PHCs.
Based on the programme Implementation Plan (PIP) submitted by the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, an amount of Rs.3911.03 lakh has been allocated to Andhra Pradesh for implementation of various eye care activities under NPCB&VI during the current financial year 2019-20.