NEP gets Rs 100m government support

Kathmandu, June 1

The Nepal Eye Programme, which is being implemented by the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO), has received Rs 100 million subsidy from the government to increase the production of intraocular lens and boost its export.

The Ministry of Industry (MoI) has allocated subsidy to this effect to the programme in the budget for 2017-18.

MoI had earlier announced that it would support the Nepal Eye Programme (NEP) and increase the production capacity of intraocular lens as Nepal-made intraocular lens have high demand in countries like Pakistan, India and China.

With this financial support from MoI, the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology will be able to increase production of intraocular lens to 1.5 million units per year from the existing production capacity of half a million units.

TIO is expected to use the subsidy amount to purchase different machinery and expand the capacity of its production plant, which is currently based in Tilganga of Kathmandu.

Due to the low production of intraocular lens in South Asia, TIO has been exporting more than 60 per cent of its annual production of intraocular lens in the region. TIO has been exporting such intraocular lens at $4 per piece in international market and selling it at Rs 225 per piece in the local market.