Rotary Eye Hospital in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, June 22: An eye hospital, set up by Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar Royal in collaboration with Rotary India Humanity Foundation (RIHF), was inaugurated today at Ashoknagar by director elect of the foundation Shekhar Mehta and city Rotarian Dr Narayan Mishra.

The hospital would offer free medical services to poor people belonging to the below poverty line.

It would also cater to other patients at a reasonable price as compared to other hospitals, said the hospital authorities.

The facilities provided by the hospital include glaucoma care, paediatric ophthalmology, phaco surgery and retina care. Patients can also avail of weekly free eye check-up. For the slum people a bi-monthly free eye check-up camp will also be conducted here.

The hospital will deliver ophthalmic OPD services, contact lens services, refractive error check-up, squint check-up and minor eye operative procedure.

The hospital has 21 beds and throughout the first month, it will provide services only to the out-patient department (OPD). The operation theatre (OT) would become functional in August.

Mehta said: “Soon we will provide all technical support needed for the hospital and in course of time the quality of service will be enhanced.”

He also said the foundation was planning to set up 50 such hospitals across the country.

Mishra spoke about various social activities accomplished by the Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar Royal.

“This hospital will certainly help the poor and slum people who cannot afford medical expenses,” he said.

Debasish Mishara, president of Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar Royal, said: “Soon, we would start a bi-monthly free eye check-up of the slum people with help of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.

Arif, a patient, who turned up for a free eye check-up, said: “Lack of money never permits us to go for eye check-up. However, with this hospital coming up, now I can go for a check-up.”