Patna: Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital, one of Bihar’s leading healthcare institutions, has launched two new initiatives aimed at strengthening eye care services in the state.
Deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary and health minister Mangal Panday inaugurated the “Healthy Eyes” campaign and the “Anmol Jyoti Eye Wellness” package at a ceremony in Patna on Sunday. Choudhary described the hospital’s contribution to eye care over the past two decades as “incomparable”, noting that it has conducted eye tests for around 10 million people and performed 1.2 million surgeries.
The Healthy Eyes campaign will provide free eye screenings for 50,000 residents of Patna in the coming year, using an AI-based diagnostic device that can deliver reports within minutes. The Anmol Jyoti Eye Wellness package, designed for people over 40, will offer 12 types of eye tests, 30 types of blood tests, and consultations with a team of five specialist doctors. Bookings will be available online, with a daily limit of 15 patients.
At the launch event, both Chaudhary and Pandey underwent screenings with the AI-based system. Pandey said the government would extend full support to the hospital’s initiatives, adding that early detection and affordable access to care were key priorities.
The hospital’s chief executive, Mrityunjay Tiwari, said the new programmes would expand access to preventive eye care, while medical director Dr Ajit Poddar highlighted the importance of targeting older populations who are more vulnerable to vision problems.
Business leaders, industry associations and civil society representatives attended the event. The Bihar Chamber of Commerce described the hospital, based in Mastichak, 40 km from Patna, as a “major achievement” for the state, while the Bihar Industries Association called it “world class”.
