Govt to support Tilganga in enhancing lens production facility

Kathmandu, May 11: The Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO) is planning to enhance its manufacturing facility for intraocular lenses.

The largest eye hospital in the country will have support from the government to develop the manufacturing at industrial level.

It signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Industry (MoI) Thursday for the same.

Founder and executive director of Nepal Eye Programme (NEP) Prof. Dr. Sanduk Ruit and joint-secretary of the MoI Purushottam Nepal signed on behalf of their respective organisations.

The NEP, a not-for-profit, community based non-government organisation, was launched in 1992 to support the prevention and control of blindness in Nepal and the region, and the TIO is the implementation body of NEP.

As per the MoU, the Ministry would support the TIO in production of raw materials needed for the intraocular lenses, installation of modern production plant, and promote the lenses in the international markets.

"The Ministry will make necessary arrangement so as to classify the lens industry as the national pride project. It will offer support to the institute and facilitate in physical, economic and infrastructure development of the industy," said Minister for Industry, Nabindra Raj Joshi.

 The MoU also mentions that the government would bar the import of low standard lenses and facilitate the institute in importing raw materials and machineries.

The new company will continue to carry not-for-profit motive.

According to Dr. Ruit, the TIO has been producing about 500,000 pieces of lenses per year, and 50 per cent of it is being exported to as much as 50 countries. If the capacity of the plant is enhanced, it can produce about 1.5 million lenses per annum.

"A lens is exported at 16 US dollars while the same lens is available at less than Rs. 200 in Nepal," he said.

Minister Joshi expressed hope that the country could not only establish itself as the producer of quality medical goods but also earn foreign currency by exporting it.

"As Nepalese lens has already earned fame and goodwill in the international market, it wouldn't be difficult for us to increase export," said the Minister.