Patna: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed today between the Bihar Health Department and Shankara Eye Foundation India, Coimbatore, to establish and operate a super-specialty eye hospital in Patna. The agreement was formalized in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
The MoU was signed by Sanjay Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Health Department, and Padma Shri awardee Dr. R.B. Ramani, Managing Director of Shankara Eye Foundation India, who exchanged copies of the agreement. The proposed hospital will be constructed on 1.60 acres of land in Kankarbagh, Patna, which the state government has conditionally leased to the foundation for a nominal fee of ₹1, following approval by the Council of Ministers on December 3, 2024.
Shankara Eye Foundation India, a globally renowned institution in eye care, will fund the hospital’s construction and operations. The facility will provide treatment for general eye ailments as well as advanced conditions such as corneoplasty, retinal detachment, and eye cancer. A key aspect of the initiative is its commitment to affordability: 75% of patients will receive free treatment, while the remaining 25% will pay for services. Families with an annual income below ₹2.5 lakh will qualify for free care.
During the ceremony, Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, Pratyaya Amrit, welcomed the Chief Minister with a symbolic green plant.
The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Health Minister Mangal Pandey, and senior officials such as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Secretary to the Chief Minister Anupam Kumar, Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, and Executive Director of the State Health Committee Suharsh Bhagat. Shankara Eye Foundation representatives Dr. R.B. Ramani and Dr. Bharat were also present at the occasion.
