First 50 centres operational; project aims to serve 40 lakh people across the state in one year
Patna: In a major public health initiative, ASG Eye Hospital on Tuesday announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Health Society, Bihar (SHSB) to set up 200 vision centres across the state under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The vision centres are being integrated with Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub-Divisional Hospitals, and Referral Hospitals (RHs) to serve as the first point of contact for eye health services in Bihar.
First 50 Centres Operational Across Key Districts
According to a statement issued by ASG and reported by PTI, the first 50 vision centres are already operational in Patna, Gaya, Hajipur, Katihar, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, and Nalanda. The remaining centres are expected to be launched within 45 days, with the full network of 200 centres targeted to be functional by mid-August.
Each centre will be equipped with advanced diagnostic equipment to enable remote consultations with senior ophthalmologists from ASG’s national network, expanding reach and reducing dependence on physical infrastructure.
A Scalable Model for Affordable Eye Care
Dr. Arun Singhvi, Managing Director and CEO of ASG Eye Hospital, stated,
“Not only does this project enable us to reach the economically disadvantaged in Bihar, but it also creates a path for a replicable public health model to address critical, unmet needs in eye care through timely diagnostic interventions.”
He added that the initiative will help in early detection and management of refractive errors, cataracts, and glaucoma—conditions that are highly treatable if diagnosed early. This would also help reduce the burden on tertiary hospitals, significantly cutting treatment costs for patients.
Project to Benefit Over 40 Lakh Patients in One Year
ASG estimates that over 40 lakh people in Bihar will benefit from this initiative within 12 months, receiving access to subsidised surgeries, prescription glasses, and essential medicines.
With over 165 ophthalmological centres across 83 cities, ASG Eye Hospital brings extensive experience in delivering high-quality eye care. This collaboration with SHSB under a scalable PPP model is expected to strengthen government health infrastructure without major capital investment while ensuring effective utilisation of public resources.