NALCO has launched an ultra-modern eye care hospital at Angul, Bhubaneswar, to provide the latest medical facilities to those living in the periphery of its mines. With the new hospital, the company hopes to give marginalised and poor communities access to world-class treatments at no cost

The National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), in association with the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), has launched the state-of-the-art secondary plus Eye Care Hospital at Angul in Bhubaneswar. The hospital will benefit more than 60,000 outpatients; will perform 6,000 surgeries annually and offer free of cost treatment to poor patients.

The ultra-modern hospital, which has been built at a cost of Rs 25 crores, was inaugurated by Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, in the august presence of Rudra Narayan Pani, former Member of Parliament and Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, chairman-cum-managing director of NALCO.

The Eye Care Hospital will provide free eye care services to the residents of the periphery villages of the S&P Complex and Utkal D and E coal blocks, who hold valid identification cards. The treatment will also be free for the below the poverty line (BPL) category families, residing in and around the Angul district. A team of eye care specialists will provide comprehensive eye care for uncorrected refractive error, cataract surgeries, medical care of glaucoma and retinal diseases, diabetic retinopathy and ocular surface disorders, among other diseases.

NALCO, a Navratna public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Mines, has been working diligently to deliver high quality healthcare solutions and is carrying out important corporate social responsibility (CSR) interventions for people residing in the periphery areas of its Smelter and Power Complex at Angul. This modern eye care hospital is yet another step taken by the company to reach out to the marginalised section of the society.

It may be mentioned here that last year, the company had spent more than Rs 70 crore towards its CSR projects including, piped drinking water supply, development of infrastructure for periphery villages, implementation of nano-technology based deflouridation plant, healthcare including mobile health service through four Mobile Health Units (MHUs) and setting up of secondary plus eye hospital, education facility in DPS and SVM and scholarships under ‘Nalco-ki-Ladli’ to poor, meritorious girl students.

The Union Minister lauded NALCO for this important initiative which aims to deliver comprehensive and the latest eye care solutions to the people of the Angul district. The sprawling hospital is spread over four acres of land with 35,000 square ft built-up area and state-of-the-art, modern medical equipment with world-class facilities.

The launch ceremony also saw the minister distributing aids and assistive devices to the senior citizens under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojna of the Government of India.