The Himalayan Times

Nepal

Nepal emerging as a regional hub for eye care, attracting patients from across south asia

By THT Online

File Photo - A patient waits for a cataract eye surgery inside the operation theater at Tilganga Eye Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal on Tuesday.

KATHMANDU, MARCH 26

Nepal's eye care sector has emerged as a regional medical hub, attracting patients from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and other countries due to its high-quality, affordable services.

In 2024, 907,071 foreign nationals underwent eye tests and 162,845 underwent surgeries at facilities under the Nepal Netrajyoti Association, which operates 28 eye hospitals and 224 treatment centers nationwide.

The association's Executive Director, Dr. Shailesh Kumar Mishra, highlighted that the network treated 3,268,034 patients (including locals) and performed 258,575 surgeries in 2024.

Notably, 34,425 patients received free surgeries through the association's hospitals and various external programmes.

Cumulatively, the association has treated 46.8 million patients and restored vision to 5.3 million through surgeries since its inception.

(With inputs from RSS)