63% Indians suffer from cataract: Vice-President

Vijayawada: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said that more than 63 per cent of Indians were suffering from cataract related eye ailments in the country.

Participating as chief guest at the inauguration of Shankara Netra Chikitsalaya here on Friday, Venkaiah Naidu said the doctor profession was a noble one and they should render their dedicated services to patients.

Stating that advanced equipment was available to performing eye surgeries, he said Shankara Netra Chikitsalaya had experienced doctors with the latest equipment.

The Vice President said that by donating eyes one could get vision which was a noble cause and said that in India there was a shortage of ophthalmologists and to overcome the shortage of eye specialists, the government was planning to establish 24 new medical colleges.

Stating that private medical colleges should be encouraged as per the changing needs, Naidu said the government should encourage public-private partnership at eye hospitals. 

With 140 crore Indian population, the government alone cannot do everything for the people, the Vice President  said there should be encouragement from private sector to meet the healthcare needs of people. 

Health minister Dr Kamineni Srinivas, sports minister Kollu Ravindra, MLC Chintamaneni Prabhakar, collector B Lakshmikantham, police commissioner Gowtham Sawang and other officials were present along with hospital staff.