Shawdesh Desk:

Bashundhara Eye Hospital and Research Institute (BEHRI), an ophthalmic venture of the country’s largest business conglomerate Bashundhara Group, conducted eye operations of 22 poor patients for free to return vision to them.

Hailing from Tangail, 13 male and nine female patients received various kinds of eye operation, medicines, accommodation, food and transportation at free of cost.

Bashundhara Eye Hospital and Research Institute, Vision Care Foundation and Rotary Club of Baridhara Sun Rise jointly organised the eye operation on Thursday.

Of the patients, 16 received cataract, six Ddacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) and one Pterygium operations which were conducted by Dr Rubina Akter and Dr Tasruba Shahnaz of BEHRI.

Earlier, on March 25, a free eye camp was held at Khandaker Fazlul Haque Degree College at Bhengulia at Gopalpur in Tangail.

Nearly 500 patients were examined by doctors at the Tangail camp organised jointly by Bashundhara Eye Hospital and Research Institute and Rotary Club of Baridhara Sun Rise.

Of them, 83 persons, including 42 male and 41 female, were selected for cataract and other kinds of eye surgery.

Sources said 66 patients were selected for Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS), 11 Ddacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) and 6 Pterygium.

The 22 patients belong to the group of 83 selected at Tangail eye camp.

Addressing a press briefing, Prof Dr Md Saleh Ahmed, a renowned eye specialist and director of BEHRI, said “Bashundhara Eye Hospital and Research Institutes is currently providing all sorts of modern eye treatments except Lasik. We will introduce Lasik surgery in this hospital very soon. Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan has assured us of necessary support in this regard.”

Replying to a query, he said no person is deprived of treatment in BEHRI for lack of money.

“Poverty is no barrier to receive treatment from BEHRI. We put especial emphasis on the diseases which create blandness. We have been providing treatment to poor patients for free since inception of the hospital in 2014. Other hospitals and organisations should come forward with free treatment. To the best of my knowledge, BEHRI is the only hospital to have been providing treatment at zero cost.”

Asked about the reason for patients’ dissatisfaction with public eye hospital, he said lack of sincerity among a section of doctors in the public hospital pushes patients to BEHRI.

BEHRI Manager Mohammad Ahsan Habib said 1,300 patients have received free treatment from the hospital so far.

Besides, the hospital has been providing treatment to affluent patients in exchange for fees and relevant costs, he added.