Patna: Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Monday inaugurated a newly built auditorium at the Super Speciality Ophthalmology Centre in Rajendra Nagar, Patna, dedicated to DNB (Diplomate of National Board) training. Speaking at the event, he set an ambitious target of conducting 36,000 eye surgeries annually—averaging over 100 procedures a day.
MLA Arun Kumar Sinha and several senior health officials were present at the ceremony. On this occasion, certificates were also distributed to 16 students who completed the Bachelor of Optometry training course.
Highlighting the progress of the ophthalmology center, Minister Pandey informed that an eye bank has been fully prepared and will begin operations shortly. In the past year alone, the center has examined over 80,000 patients with conditions such as cataract, glaucoma, cornea, and retina-related ailments. More than 5,000 surgeries have been performed, including over 2,600 in just the last six months.
To support patients, free spectacles are being distributed, and the hospital has been linked to the Ayushman Bharat scheme for the past five months. Over 500 patients have received free treatment under the scheme here, while across the state, more than ₹1,000 crore has been spent under Ayushman Bharat in the last year.
Pandey emphasized that the newly inaugurated auditorium will enhance quality training in ophthalmology by offering state-of-the-art teaching infrastructure. Four DNB seats are expected to begin functioning in the coming months.
He also shared that under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Health Department has been consistently upgrading medical infrastructure and education across the state. The Rajendra Nagar hospital, once a small facility, has now evolved into a modern center for eye care, symbolizing the transformation of Bihar’s healthcare system.
To ensure high standards, doctors and paramedics from the center have undergone training at the Shankara Eye Foundation in Bengaluru. Over the next two years, specialists from Shankar Netralaya will also begin training local teams on-site.
