Govt approves Rs 756 crore scheme to treat cataract patients

New Delhi: With an aim to free India from cataract by 2022, the government has approved a Rs 756 crore scheme to treat over 700 lakh such patients in the next five years. “Big relief to cataract patients: Modi govt approves scheme of Rs 756 crore for the treatment of 786 lakh cataract patients in 5 years,” BJP official twitter handle said, which was re-tweeted by Union Health Minister JP Nadda.

The scheme would render Rs 2,000 as financial assistance for each operation, including cost of lenses. In addition to it, a mobile application will be developed to bring the government, private doctors, clinics and NGOs together for monitoring the endeavour.

The Health Ministry sources said the plan was to put a stop to blindness among people due to cataract and that giving it a time frame of five years would lead to a “focused approach.”

“This has been a part of the national blindness control programme. However, this particular plan is being drawn up which will make it more focused,” they said.